Have been planning and anticipating this trip since June! Well actually since I got back from Birthday Beach Trip 2009, lol.
Flights Booked, Hotels Booked, Rental Car Booked-Check, Check and Check.
Destination Daytona Beach, Florida!
We decide to stay near DFW Wednesday night since our flight out is at 7am Thursday morning, I found a Best Western with Free weekly parking and airport shuttle for $59. We were very late getting in and very early leaving. The front desk was awesome and the shuttle drivers were the friendliest. The room was clean and the bed was comfortable for the brief time I spent in it. We definitely will use them again.
We are flying AirTran for the first time so we get to the airport earlier then usual. Well there were no sky caps, very few employees at airport period. We had already checked in and printed boarding but needed to check 1 bag. I was impressed to see a lady at the end of the line asking questions and telling people which line they belong in. Such organization I thought. Well that is where it started and ended! The baggage only line was moving at the speed of molassas, thank goodness we arrived early. We get done with them and off to security, also a molassas line with children and wheel chairs and strollers and old folks. Well being the pro I am at flying I had everything ready and organized to speed my process up-uh huh-I FORGOT MY CELL IN MY POCKET!!! Amateur hour! Thank goodness a man was nice enough to let me pop in front of him so my cell would go with the rest of my stuff.
Security done we mosey on to our gate and walk up and walk straight onto the plane. The seats were so cramped I had to store my backpack in the over head bin and we were hip to hip 3 wide. John shared his earphones with me and his ipod thingy. Earphones, we discovered work like earplanes, that will save us some money next trip. We get to Orlando and go shopping at a few stores in the airport when we get to the luggage claim an employee was pulling John's bag off the carousel. Good timing, no crowd. John heads to the Rental cars and I stay with the luggage-his has a Warning on it because it is so heavy! HEY HE GOT IT ALL IN ONE!! I was impressed he only had to take 5 lbs out at check-in, lol. He said their scales were off he weighed it at home.
We are in the rental car and off to find something to eat, I have been using google maps for navigation on my phone and it has a places option on it. I find a "Chicago Hot Dog Heaven" and the reviews say it is a dive but great dogs. MY KIND OF PLACE! It is about 5 miles from airport. We order 3 different kinds of dogs and the chili, cheese fries-The Firehouse Dog and the Spicy Kraut Dog both got 2 thumbs up, the Chili Cheese dog was just another Chili Cheese dog. Fries weren't bad. Some redneck shouted out a passenger window as they sped by "Hot Dog Trash!" Gee, how did he know I was there? LOL
We had some time to kill until Candace got in so we shopped for needed supplies, we only checked one bag remember. John of course finds a Big Lots and a Liquor store.
Still had plenty of time to kill so we find a watering hole and settle in. We passed a place called Miller's Alehouse which had good reviews on google maps and so we decide to go there and pass the time. It is a steakhouse/sportsbar. The bartender was awesome and funny and very personable. We almost called a cab for Candace to bring her to us and we were quite settled in to the great place. We tried a sip or two of the new Captain Morgan's Tattoo-tasted like rum and licorice to me. John finished our visit with a Southern Red Velvet Cake-cake and beer? ick! We had not goofed off a whole day like that in some time, it was nice. We head to wally world and a grocery chain to get more supplies and stop by Chili's as we realized we still had time to kill and it was basically at the entrance of airport.
We pick up Candace and head to Daytona Beach-last two trips to Florida i never saw a beach. Anticipation is building!
We time it just right to meet Heidi, Joe, Joanie and Scott for dinner at Sloppy Joes which is on the beach! Food was good, Beer was cold and the beach was just inches away.
Time to go check in to THE ISLANDER. I had seen the reviews and was a little leary. But for $44 a night I can deal with some things. Check in was smooth. Open the door turn on the lights and nothing scuries across the floor-yep life is good. Kitchenette is clean, bathroom clean, beds clean, carpet not so much, but not horrible. We pass out w/o even un-packing a thing. Closest I got to the beach was the view from the balcony...
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Jen and the Black Cat
I am so NOT superstitious!
Monday on my way to visit some girlfriends a black cat ran across the road in front of me and stopped to look at me and seem to chuckle. Well I chuckled right back because I am not superstitious!
So onward I went to my friends house and had a lovely evening once she came and unlocked the gate for me. We stopped and toasted our friendships on the way back to the house, it is quite a drive.
The evening was so lovely we sat outside and caught up with Pam, who is in from California and just had a very good visit.
I got in my car to leave and when I cranked it my "SERVICE NOW" light came on, well I am thinking maybe all the dust, dirt, bumps and such had disturbed it a bit. Left Blu's house and on to Tyler I headed. Well I was driving 67-69 in a 65 and there is a truck on my tail so I scoot over and let it and another car that was on their tail by, all of a sudden red and blues are on my tail when I pull back on highway-DANG IT!!
So I signal and pull over again-he PASSES me up for the other two!! Yeah ME!!
Go by store to see John as he is working late and pass several more law enforcement, most with people already pulled over-again, yeah me! Crank my car again and still getting the "SERVICE NOW" alert, it goes off in a few seconds but comes on each time I crank it.
I had tried to call John to let him know I was headed his way and my phone for the 2nd time since Friday locked up and wouldn't do anything but say "phone memory full". UHG!! So I delete stuff and get it working again. HAVE i MENTION i AM LEAVING FOR THE BEACH THURSDAY MORNING?
Ok so now I have a dysfunctional vehicle and phone and I have to work until I need to leave. GRRRRR
I call Crown this morning to schedule and check-up on the Vertible and ask about a loaner car-no ma'am we don't have one and Courtesy Transportation won't take me to J'ville. SO now I have to take my car in and figure out how to get to work on time as Wednesaday is my last day before Beach. So I whine to my car salesman and he calls the shop and has me put on Priority and it should not take long, but if it does he has offered personally to take me to work. Good Answer!
So I am figuring out how to be at 2 places at one time, Verizon and Work. Had two offers to take my phone for me. I finally broke down and called into Tech support which I hate to do. The final recommendation is for me to do a Re-Boot and go back to factory on my phone, of course that is not exactly what I wanted to hear, but I need a phone that works and I need it like yesterday, so re-boot I do! Thank goodness the lady reminded me to take the card out BEFORE I rebooted or I would have lost my photos. (which is the only thing saved on my 8gb card) So I went back to almost scratch on my phone. My contacts are saved in my google account so they are in tact.
So now all we have to do is wait and see what's wrong with the Vertible!
SO TAKE THAT BLACK CAT-JEN COOK AIN'T HAVIN' NONE OF THAT!!
Monday on my way to visit some girlfriends a black cat ran across the road in front of me and stopped to look at me and seem to chuckle. Well I chuckled right back because I am not superstitious!
So onward I went to my friends house and had a lovely evening once she came and unlocked the gate for me. We stopped and toasted our friendships on the way back to the house, it is quite a drive.
The evening was so lovely we sat outside and caught up with Pam, who is in from California and just had a very good visit.
I got in my car to leave and when I cranked it my "SERVICE NOW" light came on, well I am thinking maybe all the dust, dirt, bumps and such had disturbed it a bit. Left Blu's house and on to Tyler I headed. Well I was driving 67-69 in a 65 and there is a truck on my tail so I scoot over and let it and another car that was on their tail by, all of a sudden red and blues are on my tail when I pull back on highway-DANG IT!!
So I signal and pull over again-he PASSES me up for the other two!! Yeah ME!!
Go by store to see John as he is working late and pass several more law enforcement, most with people already pulled over-again, yeah me! Crank my car again and still getting the "SERVICE NOW" alert, it goes off in a few seconds but comes on each time I crank it.
I had tried to call John to let him know I was headed his way and my phone for the 2nd time since Friday locked up and wouldn't do anything but say "phone memory full". UHG!! So I delete stuff and get it working again. HAVE i MENTION i AM LEAVING FOR THE BEACH THURSDAY MORNING?
Ok so now I have a dysfunctional vehicle and phone and I have to work until I need to leave. GRRRRR
I call Crown this morning to schedule and check-up on the Vertible and ask about a loaner car-no ma'am we don't have one and Courtesy Transportation won't take me to J'ville. SO now I have to take my car in and figure out how to get to work on time as Wednesaday is my last day before Beach. So I whine to my car salesman and he calls the shop and has me put on Priority and it should not take long, but if it does he has offered personally to take me to work. Good Answer!
So I am figuring out how to be at 2 places at one time, Verizon and Work. Had two offers to take my phone for me. I finally broke down and called into Tech support which I hate to do. The final recommendation is for me to do a Re-Boot and go back to factory on my phone, of course that is not exactly what I wanted to hear, but I need a phone that works and I need it like yesterday, so re-boot I do! Thank goodness the lady reminded me to take the card out BEFORE I rebooted or I would have lost my photos. (which is the only thing saved on my 8gb card) So I went back to almost scratch on my phone. My contacts are saved in my google account so they are in tact.
So now all we have to do is wait and see what's wrong with the Vertible!
SO TAKE THAT BLACK CAT-JEN COOK AIN'T HAVIN' NONE OF THAT!!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Special
WOW! My drive down to Baytown was nice had a short late night visit with J.R. and Wendy and then off to bed so we could be chipper for the kids Saturday. I could not sleep...
Arrived at East Side Honda where the event takes place thanks to the generosity of the owner and there were Volunteers bustling everywhere. The volunteers arrive an hour earlier then the kids.
There were over 180 kids registered and nearly 400 volunteers-WOW!
I found my niche greeting the families as they arrived and pointing them in the right direction. I loved saying good morning and getting a reaction from the kids, most smiled from ear to ear and some waved. Too cute.
Brech and Debra showed up and so excited to see them, Monra came by with the kids, which are so grown now. It had been 3 years since I had been-SHAME ON ME! That won't be happening again.
I started smelling bacon and I knew that was not what was on the lunch menu, so I started sniffing around and it was following me, IT WAS MY EARS getting sunburned, despite the 3 layers of sunscreen I had put on. Daniel relieved me and my ears so I could step under the tent for some shade. I took the Horadam's to eat. All that bacon smell made me hungry, lol.
I met 3 of the Parrot Heads from the Houston area that showed up to Volunteer-THANK YOU SO MUCH, they say they will be back! I asked one of them to go around with bottled water and make sure people were hydrated-IT WAS HOT but beautiful day.
The Houston Fire Academy had some of the best Volunteers out there, those guys never stopped, from jump houses, doing the YMCA for our entertainment to packing up-THANX!
Businesses had booths and games and volunteers, food was provided for everyone, other organizations set up booths and provided volunteers. It was a packed event.
So much to do for each and every level and age of Special Child-God Bless everyone involved.
I didn't get to interact with the kids much this go around other than the greetings, but there was one child who didn't even get to the registration table and stopped and wasn't budging, so we brought the fun to him thinking we could entice him farther-well he out smarted us, why move when they are bringing it all to me...
So we decided to ignore him and everyone walked away and did their thing-sure enough, he was in motion and headed to the horse riding. I looked around for him at the end and he was sitting in the middle of the barn all worn out and happy-My Day has Been a Success!!
There is always loads to pick-up and take to the storage and misc other work to tear it all down until next year so we get to work. I follow everyone to the storage unit and get up on the trailer to get things down so that people can carry it into the storage. One of my last totes I FALL THRU THE TRAILER BED!!!! I was laughing so hard-picture it-one leg thru the trailer the other still up on the trailer-Go ahead laugh you know you want to. I have one teeny tiny scrape on my knee.
5 of us went to Shady's for old times sake and visited over a few adult beverages and talked about what a great experience we all just had and can't wait for next year!
Back at Miller Inn we had Bourbon Birthday Cake!!! OMG is was awesome! Thank You Rachel from Addie's Pantry.
Sunday I had to decide if I wanted to get up early and head to Galveston for a the morning or visit with the Miller's a little longer and make it home for John's soccer game. I got to the house just in time to leave for Soccer!
Can't believe it is already Wednesay...
Arrived at East Side Honda where the event takes place thanks to the generosity of the owner and there were Volunteers bustling everywhere. The volunteers arrive an hour earlier then the kids.
There were over 180 kids registered and nearly 400 volunteers-WOW!
I found my niche greeting the families as they arrived and pointing them in the right direction. I loved saying good morning and getting a reaction from the kids, most smiled from ear to ear and some waved. Too cute.
Brech and Debra showed up and so excited to see them, Monra came by with the kids, which are so grown now. It had been 3 years since I had been-SHAME ON ME! That won't be happening again.
I started smelling bacon and I knew that was not what was on the lunch menu, so I started sniffing around and it was following me, IT WAS MY EARS getting sunburned, despite the 3 layers of sunscreen I had put on. Daniel relieved me and my ears so I could step under the tent for some shade. I took the Horadam's to eat. All that bacon smell made me hungry, lol.
I met 3 of the Parrot Heads from the Houston area that showed up to Volunteer-THANK YOU SO MUCH, they say they will be back! I asked one of them to go around with bottled water and make sure people were hydrated-IT WAS HOT but beautiful day.
The Houston Fire Academy had some of the best Volunteers out there, those guys never stopped, from jump houses, doing the YMCA for our entertainment to packing up-THANX!
Businesses had booths and games and volunteers, food was provided for everyone, other organizations set up booths and provided volunteers. It was a packed event.
So much to do for each and every level and age of Special Child-God Bless everyone involved.
I didn't get to interact with the kids much this go around other than the greetings, but there was one child who didn't even get to the registration table and stopped and wasn't budging, so we brought the fun to him thinking we could entice him farther-well he out smarted us, why move when they are bringing it all to me...
So we decided to ignore him and everyone walked away and did their thing-sure enough, he was in motion and headed to the horse riding. I looked around for him at the end and he was sitting in the middle of the barn all worn out and happy-My Day has Been a Success!!
There is always loads to pick-up and take to the storage and misc other work to tear it all down until next year so we get to work. I follow everyone to the storage unit and get up on the trailer to get things down so that people can carry it into the storage. One of my last totes I FALL THRU THE TRAILER BED!!!! I was laughing so hard-picture it-one leg thru the trailer the other still up on the trailer-Go ahead laugh you know you want to. I have one teeny tiny scrape on my knee.
5 of us went to Shady's for old times sake and visited over a few adult beverages and talked about what a great experience we all just had and can't wait for next year!
Back at Miller Inn we had Bourbon Birthday Cake!!! OMG is was awesome! Thank You Rachel from Addie's Pantry.
Sunday I had to decide if I wanted to get up early and head to Galveston for a the morning or visit with the Miller's a little longer and make it home for John's soccer game. I got to the house just in time to leave for Soccer!
Can't believe it is already Wednesay...
Friday, September 10, 2010
First 10 of 30 Days Hath September
WOW! Birthday month is so much fun!
I over heard a lady say "I only get a week for my Birthday" That's because that is all you TAKE! Life doesn't GIVE you anything-if you want something you are going to have to TAKE it!
9/1 Great Dinner Party with Friends at my Favorite Restaurant to kick it off
9/2 Rose City Chili Pod meeting then dinner at Texas Roadhouse with friends
9/3 Met up with Penelope at the Potjie in Rusk and got to briefly see a gal I graduated with
9/4 Slept in then drove to Grapevine to meet the South Region Parrot Heads
9/5 Pool Party with Parrot Heads
9/6 Headed home to my 3 favorite boys and 1 lost kitty-Kim Rescued lost Kitty
9/7 The Parking Lot and that is all I am saying...
9/8 John grilled the Hatch Chili sausages
9/9 Visited with Granny
9/10 that's today!! I head off to Baytown to see my September Buds, J.R., Wendy and Ron! Tomorrow is the Baytown Special Needs Rodeo and I can not wait to see those kids grin from ear to ear, they are so very appreciative of all that is done for them. I might even sneak a trip to Galveston
I love my life and I appreciate everyone in it-My friends and family are all ROCK STARS!!
More Later...
I over heard a lady say "I only get a week for my Birthday" That's because that is all you TAKE! Life doesn't GIVE you anything-if you want something you are going to have to TAKE it!
9/1 Great Dinner Party with Friends at my Favorite Restaurant to kick it off
9/2 Rose City Chili Pod meeting then dinner at Texas Roadhouse with friends
9/3 Met up with Penelope at the Potjie in Rusk and got to briefly see a gal I graduated with
9/4 Slept in then drove to Grapevine to meet the South Region Parrot Heads
9/5 Pool Party with Parrot Heads
9/6 Headed home to my 3 favorite boys and 1 lost kitty-Kim Rescued lost Kitty
9/7 The Parking Lot and that is all I am saying...
9/8 John grilled the Hatch Chili sausages
9/9 Visited with Granny
9/10 that's today!! I head off to Baytown to see my September Buds, J.R., Wendy and Ron! Tomorrow is the Baytown Special Needs Rodeo and I can not wait to see those kids grin from ear to ear, they are so very appreciative of all that is done for them. I might even sneak a trip to Galveston
I love my life and I appreciate everyone in it-My friends and family are all ROCK STARS!!
More Later...
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Birthday Kick-off Dinner and Friends
Sept 1, 2010
Romantically challenging funny story: My friend Kelly calls me and asks if I want to hear her story-well of course I want to hear it.
Kelly's husband Cory had been out of town for work for a few days and she wanted to suprise him at the Tyler airport when he flew in. Kelly had her dad drop her off at the airport so she could do just that and come to my Birthday dinner and ride home with Cory. Once she was dropped off she had some time to kill so she decided to pull her phone out and call her son Alec to check on him. She realized it had been on vibrate and she had 2 text messages. One from her mother saying come back home, shortly after they had left and the other from Cory saying there were no flights out of Dallas to Tyler due to weather.
This is when Kelly calls me, I call John to see if he can go get her from the airport and we will figure out who from Jacksonville is coming to the dinner to get her back home. Bless her heart she was so excited about suprising Cory and now it might be tomorrow before he gets home. She called me back to let me know John was coming to get her and Cory had rented a car to get home, so she had a ride back to Jacksonville.
(All together now a collective "awe")
The Birthday Dinner, well as usual some showed that didn't RSVP, some that RSVP'd didn't show but over all we had a great time and it was a good group. Kelly rode to Villa Montez with John and I and we started in the bar waiting on more people to show before being seated. I wanted something with Riazul Tequila but not a margarita so I asked Stephen aka Estaban to make me something and Kelly said when he figured it out she wanted to try it before ordering. Well Estaban came up with a very yummy concoction of Riazul Tequila and Passion Fruit and some other ingredients. We named it Jenn's Birthday Drink (I know too many N's but what's a gal to do) So my Birthday Kick-off Dinner started with my own designer drink!! Kelly and Misty now have to have one and John gets the Ultimate Margarita (yummy too). An hour of fun in the bar we decide we probably need to order food and Cory and Ronnie join us at the table.
There were several chef specials (I want to think in honor of my birthday and I am sure no one would argue, lol) and I think 4 of us got Chef Specials and 2 ordered of the menu (can't go wrong either way).
Chef Carlos has just returned from Africa and I order the Lamb Chops he learned how to make while there and let me tell you melt in your mouth awesomeness! Even Misty who was glaring at me for ordering Mary's little Lamb had a bite and enjoyed it. John had the Seabass with the St Charles sauce and said it was very divine. More Jenn's Birthday drinks were ordered and Estaban had to go find some more Passion Fruit!
Now I normally do not like it when I get a new wait staff, I have my favorites. (but I guess they were new at one time too) Well I now have another favorite wait staff at Villa Montez, Kevin, you were a Rock Star last night!! Kevin is honest and funny and was there before anything was needed! My list of favorites if you need suggestions (Catherine, Gloria, Kevin, Matt, Stephen and there is another young man I can never remember his name but he is good too-I miss Owen)
On to the Cake-you knew there would be cake! A huge piece of chocolate cake came out with a smiley face complete with strawberry ears and it was D-Lish!! I will have photos on Facebook soon!
Ok now we all have to get up and go home-ugh! Full and Full!
Dogs woke me up at 1am and I was like holy smokes batman, did your realize there was TEQUILA in those drinks!! I recommend no more then 2!
8am was not wanting to get up, 10am I am good to go! Of course that is 30 minutes into work...
ThanX a Million to John, Kelly, Cory, Misty and Ronnie-Cheers!! (Mundo, Carlos, Estaban, Kevin and Catherine @ Villa-Thanx for making my Birthday Rock!)
Links to things I have mentioned:
http://www.villamontez.com/
http://www.riazul.com/
http://www.facebook.com/
Romantically challenging funny story: My friend Kelly calls me and asks if I want to hear her story-well of course I want to hear it.
Kelly's husband Cory had been out of town for work for a few days and she wanted to suprise him at the Tyler airport when he flew in. Kelly had her dad drop her off at the airport so she could do just that and come to my Birthday dinner and ride home with Cory. Once she was dropped off she had some time to kill so she decided to pull her phone out and call her son Alec to check on him. She realized it had been on vibrate and she had 2 text messages. One from her mother saying come back home, shortly after they had left and the other from Cory saying there were no flights out of Dallas to Tyler due to weather.
This is when Kelly calls me, I call John to see if he can go get her from the airport and we will figure out who from Jacksonville is coming to the dinner to get her back home. Bless her heart she was so excited about suprising Cory and now it might be tomorrow before he gets home. She called me back to let me know John was coming to get her and Cory had rented a car to get home, so she had a ride back to Jacksonville.
(All together now a collective "awe")
The Birthday Dinner, well as usual some showed that didn't RSVP, some that RSVP'd didn't show but over all we had a great time and it was a good group. Kelly rode to Villa Montez with John and I and we started in the bar waiting on more people to show before being seated. I wanted something with Riazul Tequila but not a margarita so I asked Stephen aka Estaban to make me something and Kelly said when he figured it out she wanted to try it before ordering. Well Estaban came up with a very yummy concoction of Riazul Tequila and Passion Fruit and some other ingredients. We named it Jenn's Birthday Drink (I know too many N's but what's a gal to do) So my Birthday Kick-off Dinner started with my own designer drink!! Kelly and Misty now have to have one and John gets the Ultimate Margarita (yummy too). An hour of fun in the bar we decide we probably need to order food and Cory and Ronnie join us at the table.
There were several chef specials (I want to think in honor of my birthday and I am sure no one would argue, lol) and I think 4 of us got Chef Specials and 2 ordered of the menu (can't go wrong either way).
Chef Carlos has just returned from Africa and I order the Lamb Chops he learned how to make while there and let me tell you melt in your mouth awesomeness! Even Misty who was glaring at me for ordering Mary's little Lamb had a bite and enjoyed it. John had the Seabass with the St Charles sauce and said it was very divine. More Jenn's Birthday drinks were ordered and Estaban had to go find some more Passion Fruit!
Now I normally do not like it when I get a new wait staff, I have my favorites. (but I guess they were new at one time too) Well I now have another favorite wait staff at Villa Montez, Kevin, you were a Rock Star last night!! Kevin is honest and funny and was there before anything was needed! My list of favorites if you need suggestions (Catherine, Gloria, Kevin, Matt, Stephen and there is another young man I can never remember his name but he is good too-I miss Owen)
On to the Cake-you knew there would be cake! A huge piece of chocolate cake came out with a smiley face complete with strawberry ears and it was D-Lish!! I will have photos on Facebook soon!
Ok now we all have to get up and go home-ugh! Full and Full!
Dogs woke me up at 1am and I was like holy smokes batman, did your realize there was TEQUILA in those drinks!! I recommend no more then 2!
8am was not wanting to get up, 10am I am good to go! Of course that is 30 minutes into work...
ThanX a Million to John, Kelly, Cory, Misty and Ronnie-Cheers!! (Mundo, Carlos, Estaban, Kevin and Catherine @ Villa-Thanx for making my Birthday Rock!)
Links to things I have mentioned:
http://www.villamontez.com/
http://www.riazul.com/
http://www.facebook.com/
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