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!