Despite our experience and veteran status as Florida tourists, my father and I fell for the age old rule of Orlando: NEVER believe the meteorologist.
The moral of this story, kids is that you are on vacation to get away. If you hmmm and haw about possible weather patterns, you'll end up missing out. Especially in Orlando. Dad and I failed to execute on this, and our timid philosophy left this as our incomplete day.
Even so, we did some shopping, made it to happy hour at Sonic right at 3:59, and rocked 36 holes of mini golf. Not bad for an incomplete day.
end quote.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Day two: hanging with the saint
Waking up the morning after getting 4 hours of sleep is never easy. There is no exception to the rule, even if you are vacationing in Florida. So when the alarm went off at 8 today, I was diligent in getting extra shut eye. I asked my father if he was showering, and when he said yes, i had an in. I told him to wake me up after his shower, and i earned another 15 minutes of sleep.
Upon coming to, it was off to our free "continental breakfast". It was being served in a hotel room turned dining room, so our expectations were low. Upon arriving, we found cereal (frosted flakes), toast, and pastries alongside your usual morning beverages. It was a pleasant surprise. We packed up and made our way to the car for our day on St. Pete Beach.
Fast forward to our 7/11 stop where i found another energy drink for my collection, and dad and i split a mammoth Coke Slurpee. The speed limit was a daring 70 which isn't something Milwaukeans are used to. Our 70 some mile trip outran the overcast skies plaguing the Orlando area. From that point on, it was overwhelmingly sunny all day.
St. Pete beach holds a special place in my dad and i's hearts, as we frequented the area throughout my childhood. A town raking in on the fact that the place is surrounded by water, nearly all the buildings on the streets are hotels and short term apartments. The small town is primarily mom and pop run, with a few chains creeping in.
After buying a water, some SPF 4, and an electric shaver, we set up shop on the beach. Couldn't have asked for a better day. I could, however ask for a better tan. A little disappointed on that part.
The nostalgia took a hit when we decided to drive around the saint while we rested our sandy dogs. The all you can eat style arcade that i had frequented on previous vacations and as recently as last April had closed up shop. May its glorious copies of classic arcade games rest in peace.
While traveling through the saint, my father started reminiscing about his second west coast love, Clearwater. And while describing it to me, he mentioned it being "just a bit to the north". His description of just a bit translated poorly in my brain, and I suggested we visit. A 20 minute drive and we arrived in Clearwater. It was nothing short of beautiful, and my father and i enjoyed the sunset from the beach.
On our way back, i saw a young woman in a VW bug with quite the exquisite hairdo, and i got dad to slow down enough to try to get a picture of the mop. I wanted to chase her down to get a better shot, but dad is never confident in his driving skills in an unknown region in the dark. She got away. We stopped at a Waffle House, the George Webb of the south, and stuffed our faces full of breakfast food. The ride back home is always excruciatingly long, so i used it to write this post. Haven't decided what to do tomorrow yet, but boy does it feel good to be here.
end quote.
Upon coming to, it was off to our free "continental breakfast". It was being served in a hotel room turned dining room, so our expectations were low. Upon arriving, we found cereal (frosted flakes), toast, and pastries alongside your usual morning beverages. It was a pleasant surprise. We packed up and made our way to the car for our day on St. Pete Beach.
Fast forward to our 7/11 stop where i found another energy drink for my collection, and dad and i split a mammoth Coke Slurpee. The speed limit was a daring 70 which isn't something Milwaukeans are used to. Our 70 some mile trip outran the overcast skies plaguing the Orlando area. From that point on, it was overwhelmingly sunny all day.
St. Pete beach holds a special place in my dad and i's hearts, as we frequented the area throughout my childhood. A town raking in on the fact that the place is surrounded by water, nearly all the buildings on the streets are hotels and short term apartments. The small town is primarily mom and pop run, with a few chains creeping in.
After buying a water, some SPF 4, and an electric shaver, we set up shop on the beach. Couldn't have asked for a better day. I could, however ask for a better tan. A little disappointed on that part.
The nostalgia took a hit when we decided to drive around the saint while we rested our sandy dogs. The all you can eat style arcade that i had frequented on previous vacations and as recently as last April had closed up shop. May its glorious copies of classic arcade games rest in peace.
While traveling through the saint, my father started reminiscing about his second west coast love, Clearwater. And while describing it to me, he mentioned it being "just a bit to the north". His description of just a bit translated poorly in my brain, and I suggested we visit. A 20 minute drive and we arrived in Clearwater. It was nothing short of beautiful, and my father and i enjoyed the sunset from the beach.
On our way back, i saw a young woman in a VW bug with quite the exquisite hairdo, and i got dad to slow down enough to try to get a picture of the mop. I wanted to chase her down to get a better shot, but dad is never confident in his driving skills in an unknown region in the dark. She got away. We stopped at a Waffle House, the George Webb of the south, and stuffed our faces full of breakfast food. The ride back home is always excruciatingly long, so i used it to write this post. Haven't decided what to do tomorrow yet, but boy does it feel good to be here.
end quote.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Day one: a very early return to glory
And so it begins. The alarm on my phone disrupts my all too short slumber for an important message: its time to fly. I obliged and by 540am my father and i began our departure to the sunshine state. Stopping in St. Louis for a connection, i have never been more social on 4 hours of sleep than I was on the two flights today. I met a friendly student from Edgewood in Madison who made the time fly as fast as the plane with her conversation. We also met an army ranger who swore like a sailor but was witty and had a funny accent. A quick cat nap thrown in there and we were off to the baggage claim. We had arrived.
Our hotel was right on a lake, which was separated only by our pool and jacuzzi. The hotel itself is crazy bare bones. No fridge, no microwave, but perfect for the price of 40 bones a slumber. This trip was done right from the start, on a budget.
After a swim and dinner at Joes Crab Shack where the puns ran rampant, we made our way to beautiful, and apparently too old, Amway Arena. Next season, it'll be replaced because the NBA requires teenage or younger arenas to house their teams. The matchup tonight was a strange exhibition match, as Orlando's opponent was....Moscow. Dad and i damn near fell asleep after the Magic went up 30 and put it's losers and rookies on the floor.
We night capped with Dippin Dots and passed out due to exhaustion. Day one complete.
end quote.
Our hotel was right on a lake, which was separated only by our pool and jacuzzi. The hotel itself is crazy bare bones. No fridge, no microwave, but perfect for the price of 40 bones a slumber. This trip was done right from the start, on a budget.
After a swim and dinner at Joes Crab Shack where the puns ran rampant, we made our way to beautiful, and apparently too old, Amway Arena. Next season, it'll be replaced because the NBA requires teenage or younger arenas to house their teams. The matchup tonight was a strange exhibition match, as Orlando's opponent was....Moscow. Dad and i damn near fell asleep after the Magic went up 30 and put it's losers and rookies on the floor.
We night capped with Dippin Dots and passed out due to exhaustion. Day one complete.
end quote.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
riding my wheels of christ
While riding through a church parking lot, I almost got hit by a SUV.
Ironic?
end quote.
Ironic?
end quote.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Finch-like, hopefully
If S-I-L-Y-M-I is all you want
Then I'm not sure how much in common we've got
end quote.
Then I'm not sure how much in common we've got
end quote.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)