(no subject)
Xmas adventures etc.
So - went to FL to meet and spend time with Brian's dad. He was pretty much as wacky as Brian is, so if you know Brian - think a little older, but just as insane.
Sat (23rd):
Drove - lots. Got up at like 630 am (after going to bed at like 1230-1.) We didnt end up leaving until like 7:45, but it was cool. Brian drove through VA and NC while I dozed a little. We stopped at South of the Border, just because I guess. It was pretty ghetto lame, but we both remembered stopping when we were kids, so we figured why not. We ate at a crappy overpriced Mexicany food restaurant there and then I started Driving. I drove through SC and GA. B picked up again for FL and we got there about 10 or so in the evening.
We ended up staying in a hotel (cause the dad's wife isnt really fond of Brian - long story that doesnt need to be in here.) The hotel was a Marriot something or another and we had a suite. It was ridiculously cool. (And dad paid for it - otherwise we would never have gotten something quite so nice ourselves.)
There was a mini fridge (which Brian's dad stocked with beer and water and some other light stuff.) There was also a microwave so he got us some popcorn.
Sleep.
Sun (24th): we didnt do too much. By the time we had gotten in and Brian and his dad did some catching up the night before (and I think we showered before bed too cause we had car stink) we didnt get to bed until late. We slept in until like 10 or 11. Then we got up and Brian drove around showing me some of his old haunts, old house, etc. We met Brian’s dad for a late lunch at Sonny's - a rocking BBQ place down there. We ate and talked for a while, then B and I went back to the hotel to chill. Later that night, B's dad came over with some Xmas gifts and we Xmas'ed.
Mon (25th): Because we were staying in the hotel - there wasnt much for us for food outside of eating at restaurants - and since it was Xmas - no restaurants were open much. We ended up at a bad Chinese buffet - we wanted some Thai or something more our style - but didnt know where to look much.
We then drove to Ocala to visit my Grandmother (on my Mother's side) who is living there. It was nice to see her. She is doing pretty well - although she decided to move into an actual old people home type place. She is pretty happy though - so thats good.
After Ocala - we drove back. I called the family and talked to everybody who was gathered up in VA. (Of course the year that I’m not around for my family's Xmas is the year that they do it in my neighborhood - I guess I'm just a glutton for xmas driving punishment.) Also forgot to mention that on the way driving to Ocala - Brian made many Xmas phone calls of silliness - quite an amusing time.
For "Xmas dinner" Brian, his dad and I went to the Universal city walk in Orlando - if you dont know - it pretty much a big area of bars and restaurants just before you would enter into the Universal Studios park. After like 6PM parking is free - so we went up and had dinner at Margaritaville (Jimmy Buffets restaurant place.) It was pretty good - and a good number of margaritas were had. There was also a live band after a while so it was pretty cool. I also had conch (You know, the big shell that you put up to your ear and you "hear" the ocean.) It was kinda odd - but it was also put together as a conch fritter - so who knows what it really is like...
After dinner we drove around a bit and I think I passed out while Brian and his dad caught up more and enjoyed each others company.
Tuesday (26th): Seaworld. :) We went. It was neat. I think the most disappointing show was the Shamu show - but how much can you really do with a big old killer whale. There was one cute show with a pirate theme that had two sea lions and an otter that kept stealing the treasure map. Also there was a pets ahoy show - where dogs and cats run around and do silly things. There was also a neat one with dolphins and beautiful macaw birds and guys doing huge high dives and some wire work (like circ de soleil or something.) That was one of my favorites because they used a lot of cool colors. I also saw Manatees. :)
It got kinda cold that day, so we left about 6 or 7. Then Brian’s dad took us to an all you can eat seafood place and I ate lots of crab. Yum.
Wednesday (27th): My (I mean Kennedy) Space Center. Brian’s dad decided to stay home and tend to his dogs and cats (he has 4 dogs and 4 cats - it was a bit crazy.) Brian and I took our time getting up there (somehow) but we got up there about 130 (it is about an hour drive from Orlando.) The KSC had grown a lot since Brian had last been there - and I had a really good time. They had a bus tour as part of the admission that took you around to a couple of different places. One was a viewing tower of the two active launch pads (39A and 39B). Then we were taken to another place that had some interesting videos - one about how launch goes and one about moon landing. The last area was where they are actually working on the space station parts that will be sent up later - but it was late and nobody was working anymore.
Also - before we left for the bus tour - we went and did the IMAX at the initial visitors center area which was on the moon - made by/produced by Tom Hanks - he does tons with space stuff. I also noticed that a lot of the narration was by some of the other cast members of Apollo 13 - and also Morgan Freeman - he must like space too.
Once we got back to the main area we went and walked around a little and looked at their gift shop. Then we headed back to Orlando/ Ocoee at about 8.
We met up with Brian's dad and got pizza from Hungry Howies (or something like that.) It is a place down in the Orlando area that Brian used to love when he lived there. They have flavored crusts, which was pretty good.
Thursday (28th): We werent sure when we were going to leave, but we decided to stay an extra day. Brian, his dad and I went around and did some more stuff in Orlando. We went to the Orlando science museum (where we also save a video on spacey stuff - but this was on the Mars rovers - and was on a huge huge 8 story tall screen.) It was a smallish museum place, but pretty cool. Then we went and played 36 holes of putt-putt at pirates golf. Brian won one game and I won one game. It was really fun and had some pretty crazy neat holes. Then we went to the Ripley's believe it or not museum. I had never been to one (that I remember) so it was pretty neat.
By that point, we were pretty beat so we went back to the hotel and went to sleep.
Friday (29th): We got up and packed the car. Brian's dad came over and we had breakfast at the hotel - which wasnt too bad. Then after saying goodbyes we went in search of some liquor that is down in FL only for one of Brian and my friends. We actually got it at Sams club (along with a liter of Makers for only 30 bucks - if only the sams or costcos by us could sell liquors.)
After that we headed back towards the KSC area, but actually were headed to Cocoa beach. Its pretty much just another beach area - but there is one of the largest Ron Jon stores there - which is sort of a tradition for Brians family so we went and saw it. Then I walked out on the beach for a little bit. The weather was awesome - something like 70 degrees.
Eventually we headed out. Brian Drove through FL, GA and bit off a bit of SC. I drove in SC and NC while Brian slept. Then B took over for VA and I slept. We got home about 4 or 430 and saw the kitties and went to bed.
Other interesting things of note:
- While we were away - the apartment complex apparently had to do pest inspection or something and because we couldnt be there to keep an eye on the cats and didnt know what exactly we were supposed to do with them Sam, Dave and Lisa helped us out and there was mass kitty crazyness. (Thanks again Lisa - since you'll be the only one who might read this post of the three.)
- Eating Frosties while driving is hard.
- I didnt get to see any wild lizards around Brian's dads house or the hotel, but I did see 2 alligators when we were in the wildlife refuge area near the Kennedy Space Center.
So - went to FL to meet and spend time with Brian's dad. He was pretty much as wacky as Brian is, so if you know Brian - think a little older, but just as insane.
Sat (23rd):
Drove - lots. Got up at like 630 am (after going to bed at like 1230-1.) We didnt end up leaving until like 7:45, but it was cool. Brian drove through VA and NC while I dozed a little. We stopped at South of the Border, just because I guess. It was pretty ghetto lame, but we both remembered stopping when we were kids, so we figured why not. We ate at a crappy overpriced Mexicany food restaurant there and then I started Driving. I drove through SC and GA. B picked up again for FL and we got there about 10 or so in the evening.
We ended up staying in a hotel (cause the dad's wife isnt really fond of Brian - long story that doesnt need to be in here.) The hotel was a Marriot something or another and we had a suite. It was ridiculously cool. (And dad paid for it - otherwise we would never have gotten something quite so nice ourselves.)
There was a mini fridge (which Brian's dad stocked with beer and water and some other light stuff.) There was also a microwave so he got us some popcorn.
Sleep.
Sun (24th): we didnt do too much. By the time we had gotten in and Brian and his dad did some catching up the night before (and I think we showered before bed too cause we had car stink) we didnt get to bed until late. We slept in until like 10 or 11. Then we got up and Brian drove around showing me some of his old haunts, old house, etc. We met Brian’s dad for a late lunch at Sonny's - a rocking BBQ place down there. We ate and talked for a while, then B and I went back to the hotel to chill. Later that night, B's dad came over with some Xmas gifts and we Xmas'ed.
Mon (25th): Because we were staying in the hotel - there wasnt much for us for food outside of eating at restaurants - and since it was Xmas - no restaurants were open much. We ended up at a bad Chinese buffet - we wanted some Thai or something more our style - but didnt know where to look much.
We then drove to Ocala to visit my Grandmother (on my Mother's side) who is living there. It was nice to see her. She is doing pretty well - although she decided to move into an actual old people home type place. She is pretty happy though - so thats good.
After Ocala - we drove back. I called the family and talked to everybody who was gathered up in VA. (Of course the year that I’m not around for my family's Xmas is the year that they do it in my neighborhood - I guess I'm just a glutton for xmas driving punishment.) Also forgot to mention that on the way driving to Ocala - Brian made many Xmas phone calls of silliness - quite an amusing time.
For "Xmas dinner" Brian, his dad and I went to the Universal city walk in Orlando - if you dont know - it pretty much a big area of bars and restaurants just before you would enter into the Universal Studios park. After like 6PM parking is free - so we went up and had dinner at Margaritaville (Jimmy Buffets restaurant place.) It was pretty good - and a good number of margaritas were had. There was also a live band after a while so it was pretty cool. I also had conch (You know, the big shell that you put up to your ear and you "hear" the ocean.) It was kinda odd - but it was also put together as a conch fritter - so who knows what it really is like...
After dinner we drove around a bit and I think I passed out while Brian and his dad caught up more and enjoyed each others company.
Tuesday (26th): Seaworld. :) We went. It was neat. I think the most disappointing show was the Shamu show - but how much can you really do with a big old killer whale. There was one cute show with a pirate theme that had two sea lions and an otter that kept stealing the treasure map. Also there was a pets ahoy show - where dogs and cats run around and do silly things. There was also a neat one with dolphins and beautiful macaw birds and guys doing huge high dives and some wire work (like circ de soleil or something.) That was one of my favorites because they used a lot of cool colors. I also saw Manatees. :)
It got kinda cold that day, so we left about 6 or 7. Then Brian’s dad took us to an all you can eat seafood place and I ate lots of crab. Yum.
Wednesday (27th): My (I mean Kennedy) Space Center. Brian’s dad decided to stay home and tend to his dogs and cats (he has 4 dogs and 4 cats - it was a bit crazy.) Brian and I took our time getting up there (somehow) but we got up there about 130 (it is about an hour drive from Orlando.) The KSC had grown a lot since Brian had last been there - and I had a really good time. They had a bus tour as part of the admission that took you around to a couple of different places. One was a viewing tower of the two active launch pads (39A and 39B). Then we were taken to another place that had some interesting videos - one about how launch goes and one about moon landing. The last area was where they are actually working on the space station parts that will be sent up later - but it was late and nobody was working anymore.
Also - before we left for the bus tour - we went and did the IMAX at the initial visitors center area which was on the moon - made by/produced by Tom Hanks - he does tons with space stuff. I also noticed that a lot of the narration was by some of the other cast members of Apollo 13 - and also Morgan Freeman - he must like space too.
Once we got back to the main area we went and walked around a little and looked at their gift shop. Then we headed back to Orlando/ Ocoee at about 8.
We met up with Brian's dad and got pizza from Hungry Howies (or something like that.) It is a place down in the Orlando area that Brian used to love when he lived there. They have flavored crusts, which was pretty good.
Thursday (28th): We werent sure when we were going to leave, but we decided to stay an extra day. Brian, his dad and I went around and did some more stuff in Orlando. We went to the Orlando science museum (where we also save a video on spacey stuff - but this was on the Mars rovers - and was on a huge huge 8 story tall screen.) It was a smallish museum place, but pretty cool. Then we went and played 36 holes of putt-putt at pirates golf. Brian won one game and I won one game. It was really fun and had some pretty crazy neat holes. Then we went to the Ripley's believe it or not museum. I had never been to one (that I remember) so it was pretty neat.
By that point, we were pretty beat so we went back to the hotel and went to sleep.
Friday (29th): We got up and packed the car. Brian's dad came over and we had breakfast at the hotel - which wasnt too bad. Then after saying goodbyes we went in search of some liquor that is down in FL only for one of Brian and my friends. We actually got it at Sams club (along with a liter of Makers for only 30 bucks - if only the sams or costcos by us could sell liquors.)
After that we headed back towards the KSC area, but actually were headed to Cocoa beach. Its pretty much just another beach area - but there is one of the largest Ron Jon stores there - which is sort of a tradition for Brians family so we went and saw it. Then I walked out on the beach for a little bit. The weather was awesome - something like 70 degrees.
Eventually we headed out. Brian Drove through FL, GA and bit off a bit of SC. I drove in SC and NC while Brian slept. Then B took over for VA and I slept. We got home about 4 or 430 and saw the kitties and went to bed.
Other interesting things of note:
- While we were away - the apartment complex apparently had to do pest inspection or something and because we couldnt be there to keep an eye on the cats and didnt know what exactly we were supposed to do with them Sam, Dave and Lisa helped us out and there was mass kitty crazyness. (Thanks again Lisa - since you'll be the only one who might read this post of the three.)
- Eating Frosties while driving is hard.
- I didnt get to see any wild lizards around Brian's dads house or the hotel, but I did see 2 alligators when we were in the wildlife refuge area near the Kennedy Space Center.