Tampa, Part 1

Okay so I am down here in warm and sunny Tampa Florida! The weather is a balmy 70-80 and beautiful! Loving it! Especially since it is so cold back in good old KY! Thought I would get on and update you on my trip so far. Several interesting things have happened thus far...didn't want to forget anything.

My trip began on Wednesday, after waiting for my car window to be fixed (see previous post) I was finally on the road around 12:30. Now the drive to Tampa is about 12 hours...it took me 14! Traffic was horrible. I actually came to a complete stop on the interstate 5 times in 5 different places in KY, TN, and GA. The worst being the hour I spent parked on the interstate or else creeping along at less than 5 mph just south of Atlanta. I thought I was never going to get moving again and I had to pee so bad! Torture! Finally though I got through it and picked up speed. Of course then I ran into construction and had to reduce my speed. Then the fuel light comes on and I'm like where's a gas station, because of course I am in between the longest gap between exits. Thankfully, I eventually made it to Tampa around 2:30am, parked the car, got out and went to sleep. Didn't even get the suitcase out of the car.

The next morning Ann and I went to pick up Jason and Vicki at the airport. I decided to drive since Ann still had carseats and stuff in her car and mine was empty. So off we went to pick up our friends. No problem picking up Jason. What a hoot! His first words were describing the "slightly" overweight person sitting next to him taking up part of his seat and the older person pushing him out of the way to get to her bag. His comment to her was "Slow down, you still have time to get to the early buffet at the old folks home!" I really can't believe some of the things that come out of his mouth. Then it was off to pick up Vicki who was on a different airline and thus in a different part of the airport. After several misturns and actually leaving the terminal and having to figure out how to get back to the terminal, we finally saw Vicki standing at the baggage claim area waiting on her luggage. Can't stop, so we start our process of circling. After about 5 times, I was really starting to get dizzy! Finally the luggage arrives and we are on our way to lunch.

After lunch, we head back to Ann's and I need a cigarette! However, my lighter has stopped working. So as we pull up to a light, I notice that the guy in the car in front of me is smoking, so I think what the hell. Put the car in park, hop out, and go ask for a light. Before I can get to the car, he is holding his lighter out the window. Cute guy, too! Of course, when I get back to the car, my friends are all like "You are nuts!" I was like "What?" I needed a cigarette! Plus it was good for a laugh! After we get back to Ann's, Jason settles in for a nap before dinner and the girls and I just hang out. Many interesting conversations have occur thus far including sex preferences, types of underwear, and eating habits! It is always a riot when we get together.

Dinner is at Outback and our friend Chris, another Tampa resident, joins us. After dinner, we decided to go bowling. However, Chris just has to have his bowling clothes, shoes, and ball. He just can't bowl without them. So we decide since Chris lives like 30 minutes away to go and meet them at an alley halfway between the two. So we go home to get sweatshirts, stop and get money at the ATM, etc. and go to the bowling alley. They aren't there. Well we go in and it is league night. So we call and figure out plan B. Off we go again for some more driving through I have no idea where. This time they show up at the alley and let me tell you this alley is like something out of Deliverance. Straight from the 70's or something. Ancient! I think we are the youngest people in the place. Bowling is a hoot and we have a lot of fun and a lot of beer. Not me of course, I was driving. Gotta protect the new car! LOL! Between Ann's granny bowling with her pink bowling ball and Jason's launching of the ball halfway down the lanes, it is definitely a good time! And the best part was that even with his precious shoes and ball, I beat the shit out of Chris in the endgame.

So we head for home. When we get home, Ann is off to bed since she has to work in the am, but Vicki and I stay up to watch a movie or so we think. I believe she fell asleep first, but I know I wasn't far behind. Needless to say I spent the night in a recliner and I felt it this morning. So I woke up and of course wanted to finish the movie I was watching the night before, so I find my place and get settled in to finish. About this time Vicki comes down the stairs, and suddenly I hear her say she has just armed the security system. What? She opens the sliding door to the porch and BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP the alarm starts wailing! So loud, you can't hear yourself on the phone. So we call Ann at work and she doesn't use the system, so there is no code. We have to call Brinks Home Security Systems to have them walk us through the disarming of the system. We have to find a panel upstairs and unhook a battery then go to the garage and unhook something plugged into the outlet. The outlet just happens to be on the roof of the garage, so here I go climbing up on my car to reach it and shut off the damn alarm. Didn't realize I was going to have to do electrical work on my vacation! LOL! These things always happen to me.

Finally got the alarm shut down and things got quiet, just in time for me to watch UK kick Clemson's ass in the Music City Bowl! Go CATS! Then dinner with the girls tonight and now it is time to kick back and relax before the big weekend. We plan to go out tomorrow night, Bucs game on Sunday, out on NY's, and Outback bowl on Monday. Should be lots of fun!

Be back later!

Two things I hate!

First: long catholic weddings!

Yes I went to my friend's wedding last night and unbeknownst to me, it was the long version of a catholic wedding. Now of course I went to this wedding alone as I have several here lately and I hate doing that. All eyes turn to you as if to say "What's wrong with you?" Just because I'm 30ish and single and not married, there must be something wrong with me. So I go and of course they have the full mass/prayers/communion and she has like 1000 attendants and before you know it this wedding has last over an hour. My butt is asleep from sitting on the pews. Although I guess that's why catholics stand and sit so much so that they won't go to sleep. So the wedding finally ends and then we go to the reception. Now things pick up here cause there's free beer! Yeah!! That definitely helps to redeem the night. I did get to see a few old friends and catch up on stuff. So the night did end ok...now for the second...

Second: vandalism!

That's right, it happened to me! I woke up this morning to go to work at the golf course and walked outside and got in my car. As I turned to put my purse in the passenger seat, I noticed a piece of glass on the seat. I was confused and has I turned I happened to glance in the rearview window and WOW! HOLY SHIT! the back window of my brand new car was shattered. WTF? Someone had thrown a master lock through the window. Ok I have never had this happened to me before, so what do I do? Call my mom! Once I calmed down, I got back in the car and took the car to the dealer service department. They try to call glass companies and can get no one...why? Cause these idiots have broken my window on the day before Christmas EVE!!! Nothing is open! Thankfully my new best friends at the dealership hook me up with a car to drive (07 Avalon, sweet ride!) and keep my car. Hopefully they can fix my car by Wednesday for my trip to Tampa for New Year's! Of course, I can't get a hold of the insurance company cause it's Saturday so have to wait on that one. And after I get off work today, I get to go to the police station to file a report.

Why do these things always happen to me????

Holiday Eating Tips

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they’re serving eggnog.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. it’s rare. You can’t find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It’s not as if you’re going to turn into an eggnog addict or something. It’s a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It’s later than you think. It’s Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That’s the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they’re made with skim milk or whole milk. If it’s skim, pass. Why bother? It’s like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people’s food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year’s. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you’ll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don’t budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They’re like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you’re never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don’t like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it’s loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don’t feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven’t been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.
HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY SEASON!

CHRISTMAS CAROLS FOR THE DISTURBED

1. Schizophrenia --- Do You Hear What I Hear?
2. Multiple Personality Disorder --- We Three Kings Disoriented Are
3. Dementia --- ! I Think I'll be Home for Christmas
4. Narcissistic --- Hark the Herald Angels Sing About Me
5. Manic --- Deck the Halls and Walls and House and Lawn and Streets and Stores and Office and Town and Cars and Buses and Trucks and Trees and.....
6. Paranoid --- Santa Claus is Coming to Town to Get Me
7. Borderline Personality Disorder --- Thoughts of Roasting on an Open Fire
8. Personality Disorder --- You Better Watch Out, I'm Gonna Cry, I'm Gonna Pout, Maybe I'll Tell You Why
9. Attention Deficit Disorder --- Silent night, Holy oooh look at the Froggy - can I have a chocolate - why is France so far away?
10. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder --- Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle,Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells , Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,! Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,

Still here...

Hey guys, just thought I would post a quick thought to let you guys know I'm still here. I realize it has been a month since I posted but nothing much has happened...plus I'm not real good with the whole random thought stuff. LOL! I've been really busy with school and now basketball season is upon me so time is tight. Not much to report except perhaps my planned trip to Tampa Florida for New Year's. Excited about that...going to see a Bucs game and the Outback
Bowl game on New Year's Day...if I think of anything else I'll let you know. Happy Holidays!

Vegas!

So I have been trying to put this post together for several days now. Had the pictures all downloaded and blogger wouldn't post them to the blog...so frustrating. Well anyway, here are what I have but I may have more when everyone else posts their pictures but this is what I got for now! LOL

So I got there on a Thursday night, got to the hotel (The Tropicana) and got ready for dinner. Now let me tell you the Trop may look okay from the inside but the rooms were crappy. They weren't any better than a Holiday Inn. Met up with some friends and we went and had dinner at the Rainforest Cafe in the MGM hotel. If you have never been to a Rainforest Cafe, you need to, it's really cool. After dinner, we went out on the strip for a while and then back to one of the guys suites for a party. It gotta pretty interesting there since there was a hot tub and alcohol was flowing. So much so that one guy actually got naked in the hot tub, lathered up, and proceeded to prance around the suite in his birthday suit. Unfortunately I didn't take my camera for fear of breaking it, so unless someone posts pictures of the evening, I don't have any right now.

This is the Tropicana where I stayed

Jess, me, and Vicki before going to dinner

The Excalibur hotel

On Friday morning, my friend Jess and I got up early and went to see the Hoover Dam. That was really cool.

Walked all the way across from Nevada into Arizona...lol!

Lake Mead...me and Jess...the white on the rocks shows how far down the water is...they have been under a "drought" for the past 6 years

Friday night, I got to get dressed up and go see the live show Phantom of the Opera! Way cool! And then more walking on the strip. We also went and saw Fremont Street which is the old strip.

Standing outside the show with friends

Inside the hotel...looks so real!

On the strip at night

Saturday we went shopping and walked up and down the strip...it's a long way! My feet ached!

New York, New York Hotel

Treasure Island Hotel

Caesar's Palace

Water Show at the Bellagio...fancy hotel!

Paris Hotel...so wanted to go up in the Eiffel Tower...but alas, maybe next time!

Visited M&M World! This is Jess...she took my pic too!

Hanging at ESPN sportszone bar and game room...beer flowing!

Saturday night was our formal dinner at $55 a plate and we celebrated two of our friends birthdays. One of them was so wasted he doesn't even remember dinner or throwing his part of the cake across the table.

My cool dress I bought for the dinner!

With the gang on the strip on the last night!

Sunday morning got up packed my things and went to one last lunch at Toby Keith's bar and grill restaurant. Good food! and then it was back to the hotel to pick up luggage and head to the airport...of course I proceeded to do a bit of drinking in the hotel and was a little tipsy when I boarded my plane to head back to the freezing temperatures of KY...brrrr!

Anyway, there's your pics, at least the ones I had....hopefully more to come when my friends get theirs up!

Powderpuff Football

So I know you all want to see pictures from my Vegas trip but you will have to wait a bit longer for those...they're coming, I swear!

Today I'm going to rant and rave about powderpuff football. I am a junior sponsor at the school where I teach and this year I was in charge of the organization of the junior part of the game. Now supposedly it is a "tradition" that the seniors always win. I say bullshit! That is ridiculous! Of course I told my girls that the game will be called fair and it will go okay. They of course are a bunch of pansies and scared cause the senior team had some big girls on it. Well the game arrived and started with the seniors coming on to the field before the game and dousing my girls with water balloons and twinkies. Yes, I said twinkies...wtf? Real classy! The game gets started and we marched down the field to score the first touch down. THen we go for the two point conversion. Got it. The seniors go down and score but do not convert the extra points. So we are up 8-6 at the end of the first quarter. That's when the trouble began. Next thing you know, the penalties start adding up against the juniors as we consistently march down the field. The seniors are scared and so of course the officials step in and start working their magic so that we can't win. However, we are winning, and unless they score, they can't stop us. However, with the onslaught of bogus penalties, our girls get riled up and start becoming just a bit more aggressive. Nothing is done and the game quickly gets out of hand. Girls are being pushed both ways and getting kicked in the mouth sometimes. Well my co-sponsor has had enough and goes to talk to the referees, telling them in not so nice terms that it needs to be called fair and if there is one more flagrant play, the game is done. No sense in getting someone hurt. Well wouldn't you know it, the next play results in a girl down on the sidelines unable to breathe. She is taken to the ER in an ambulance and that is where the game ends and I spend the rest of my evening. My birthday none-the-less! WTF! Now my problem with this whole scenario is of course the sense of fair play. Now tradition is great and I am all for the kids having a sense of tradition and pride. But to put winning a game above honesty and integrity! To teach our kids it doesn't matter how hard you work, how much you do, you can't win? Give me a break! Just doesn't seem right to me to hand seniors a win regardless of what they do. I thought our job as educators was to instill in these kids a sense of values not a sense that winning is everything. So sad!

Well off to balance my checkbook and check emails! Much love!

I'm back!

Yes, I made it safely back from Vegas and had a blast! It was so much fun! I'll tell you more about it later...still trying to recuperate and get everything back to normal. More to come later!

It's been a while...

since I posted...I know I know. I have been so busy over the past two weeks, I hardly have time to breathe. School is keeping me really busy right now. I co-sponsor two clubs, tutor after school, am working with the junior powderpuff team, and still working part-time at the golf course. There's just no time for anything else.

This past week was Fall Break so I had to just get away. I went down to TN to see friends and just veg on their couch. It was great! No one to bother me, nothing to do but whatever the hell I wanted to do. Played a little golf, did some shopping, and a little drinking. LOL! Came back on Wednesday and just vegged all day on my couch, catching up on Tivo. Worked Wednesday night at the golf course and Thursday morning at school. Now I have golf course this weekend to keep me busy as well.

Was supposed to go to Keeneland on Friday, but had to wait for the plumber at noon and he didn't leave until like 1:30 so that didn't happen. Really sucks, cause I've never been and really wanted to go. Then the landlord was supposed to come today with the drywall guy to fix the huge hole in my bedroom wall. Told me he was coming sometime after 10am this morning so I got up at 9:30, got dressed, moved everything away from the wall, and they they didn't show up. Pissed! Now I have to move it all back. Plus it is freezing in my house! I have gas heat and with hardwood floors and ten foot ceilings, you just can't heat it. Space heaters work wonders though in the smaller rooms. And what would I do with out my electric blanket at night? Unfortunately, I have to make due with that since there are no other means of finding heat at night...lol!

Been sitting here tonight finally printing out pictures from my cruise back in April. Really want to take them with me. However, went through two ink cartridges tonight and will have to wait to finish until I can get another one.

Of course the best thing is my trip to Vegas! If you have visited my page and are reading this, then you know that I am leaving for Vegas on Thursday. I cannot wait! I've never been to the strip and cannot wait to see it all lit up. Got to start thinking about what to pack and make sure that everything is washed and ready to go. Don't have a clue what to bring. Checked the weather and it says highs around 80 which will be so great after this week being in the 30's at night. I won't know what to do! LOL! Only have one worry and that is my roommate. I don't know her, and I am hearing strange things about her from other people going to Vegas. Things like she steals...not sure what to do about that. However, she hasn't paid her share of the hotel room yet. Until she does, she will not set one little foot in the room. Maybe I'll end up with my own room by default. Now wouldn't that be something! However, my friends have told me that if I want, I can store stuff in their rooms if I get worried so that's good.

I don't know if I will have time to get back on here this week before leaving for Vegas, but if not, I'll be sure to tell you all about it when I return! Have a good one!

In Memoriam

This post is in memoriam of a lovely young lady who perished this weekend in the flooding in Central Kentucky. She was a beautiful girl and a much loved daughter, sister, and friend.
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/15595828.htm

Lindsey, you are loved and you will be missed...

How about a little humor?

These are a couple of jokes from a friend of mine in the military. He is leaving for Germany for three years in the next week! Here's to him and all of our service men and women out there! May they be safe!
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This is a terrible, sneaky, dastardly device that is totally against the Geneva Convention!!!!! I think with this new device, it will be the beginning of WWIII.
The damn terrorists have sunk to a new low. Roadside bombs, suicide bombers, bombs strapped to babies, but this………………it’s just friggin wrong! WRONG I say!!!

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In Jerusalem, a journalist heard about a very old Jewish man who had been going to the Wailing Wall to pray, twice a day, everyday,for a long, long time, so she went to check it out.

She went to the Wailing Wall and there he was. She watched him pray, and after about 45 minutes when he turned to leave, she approached himfor an interview.

"I'm Rebecca Smith from CNN. Sir, how long have you been coming to the wall and praying?"

"For about 60 years."

"60 years! That's amazing! What do you pray for?"

"I pray for peace between the Christians, Jews and the Muslims. Ipray for all the hatred to stop and I pray for all our children to grow up in safety and friendship."

"How do you feel after doing this for 60 years?"

"Like I'm talking to a fuckin' wall."

Rain Rain Go Away

So I went to the game last night and it was going good. The rain was holding off and we got through the homecoming festivities. Got the queen crowned and the band played and the teams marched back onto the fields and then BOOM!

Lightning filled the sky!

That meant at least 30 minutes delay from the last seen strike. Unfortunately, I don't think they ever finished the game cause from that point on lightning and thunder was all that was seen and heard. It was crazy. It poured last night. Now I love the rain, but it was loud! I have a window unit in my bedroom and of course when it rains, I hear the drops on the metal outside the window. It was so loud last night, it was hard to sleep. That made getting up this morning for work rather difficult.

Yes, I said I got up for work on a Saturday, so that must mean the golf course. Now you may ask why in the hell and I'm going to work at a golf course in the rain? Good question. Here is what I saw when I came in to work this morning.

Are you seeing what I am seeing? Water everywhere. What is the point of me being at work? To answer the phone! We were supposed to have a tournament there today and tomorrow, and I had to call members this morning and let them know it had obviously been postponed. What fun! Called one guy and his kid answers the phone "Hello Who is this please?" That's right, all in one breath I might add? What happened to phone ettiquette! Geez! So then I go outside to get some air and I see this:

Now just what the hell is that? I thought at first it was just brush washed up from the rain or blown from the wind...but upon closer inspection...those are earthworms! Now you know it has rained when the earthworms come up out of the dirt because they are drowning! Crazy! So work proceeded today with me watching the TV and grading science tests. How great is that? To get paid to do my school work! LOL! However, what a boring morning. Finally, my relief shows up and I leave. I decide to take a drive down to that driving range I was talking about and see how much water it had. Check out our new pets!

Guess I won't be having to pick it anytime soon at least not without a boat!
On the way out of the course, I stopped to snap some pictures of the most flooded hole on the golf course just to see how much, if any, the water had gone down.

As you can see the water had receded a little from 7am to 1pm but not a lot...and we got more rain today! And the best part is I get to go and do it all over again tomorrow! Yippee! Have a good one!