It’s 5:45am and I’m sitting at my terminal at FLL. I woke up at 4am, showered, dragged my heavy-ass luggage down the stairs and then moved Emily’s car into her spot. I had to fill up the rental with gasoline and get to the airport by 5am (including rental check-in and bus to the terminal)… I did it!
Now that I’m here and have gone through security, eaten breakfast and sat around for a bit, I have decided to see if there were any wireless networks and sign on to recap the week… hooray for free airport wireless!
As you can see, from two posts below, I’m in South Florida. I got here on the 22nd and have been enduring this horrible heat ever since. Damn weather.com screwing me again!
Saturday, Dec 22nd – Arrived at FLL, got a rental and drove to my grandma’s. I slept a few hours, then left to pick up Leilani and Penny for a night out! Lani & I had dinner at Disalvo’s first (yum, cheese ravioli) and then we all went to Downtown Ft. Lauderdale to the Original Fat Cats. James was there with his dog, Seamus, and some friends. He’s a local there.
After a bit, a few more friends showed up: Jen M, Brandon & Christina, Devon, Janis, Joe, Jason K, & Ryan M. It was a great mix of people and we had a lot of fun. Sadly, Penny got pretty sick-drunk and Joe & Jason were drugged. Though the night was fun, it ended up a bit scary and exhausting!
Around 1:15am, Lani, Ryan & I went off to look for Penny & James who took a walk to help Penny feel better after such harsh drinking. Once we connected, we said good-bye to Joe & Jason (who were playing pool) and then Lani & I took Penny home. Once we got to her place, she realized she lost her credit card. Luckily, James had it! We turned back around and picked up her card, then I drove her back home before heading back to Broward Blvd to go to Lani’s house (arriving at 3am). I stayed over there that night. Around 5:30am, I got a call from Nikki that Joe was missing and Jason was apparently drugged. I sent out prayers and wishes for him to turn up safe and well, and had trouble sleeping after that.
Sunday, Dec 23rd – When I woke at 7am to leave for Orlando, I got on the road and contacted Janis to see if she had heard anything. Nikki called while I was on the phone with her and told me the story. Sadly, Joe turned up at a hospital after crashing his car in Weston. Luckily, he only had 3 stitches and was able to be released. Hopefully insurance will cover everything, as he was not intoxicated.
I got some Dunkin Donuts coffee and a poppy seed bagel with veggie cream cheese, then drove to Orlando to meet up with Grace & Nancy. I got there around 12pm, and checked into the Homewood Suites. Grace & Nancy followed soon after. We went to Epcot that day, and it was really freakin’ hot out! Nancy stayed with us for lunch and some wandering around the Countries. Grace & I continued wandering, having two pieces of chocolate cake within a 15 min period… one German & one French!
After cake, we went to Mission Space (which was awesome and very exhilarating) and then Journey Into Imagination (which was a severe disappointment from my childhood memories). We also went to the Nemo Undersea Tour and Soarin’ before going to Mexico to get churros and watch the Illuminations show. I was so sugar’d out that I couldn’t even finish my churro! After leaving Epcot, Grace & I went back to the hotel to pass out.
Monday, Dec 24th – Woke up around 7:30am, had free awesome hot breakfast at the hotel, bought James’ family some gifts for Christmas, then went to Animal Kingdom (she & I had never been). The Christmas Tree outside was amazing. I’ll post a photo later. Anyhow, it was another sweltering hot day, and the lines were long. We fast-passed Everest, but couldn’t fast-pass the Safari. We went to Rafiki’s place, went to the Dino area, wandered around the big tree, saw A Bug’s Life 3D, and had some food at the Rain Forest Cafe. It was a fun day overall, but we left early to go have dinner around 5:30pm.
After dinner at Friday’s, Grace & I said good-bye and I drove to James’ family’s house in Broward (3hrs) and Grace drove to Palm Coast. I spent a few hours chatting with Dee (James’ mom) and then passed out before 3am sometime.
Tuesday, Dec 25th – James showed up at 10am and jolted me from my sleep. I got dressed and joined the family for gifts and breakfast on Christmas morning. It was great! After breakfast, I went to my grandma’s. We went to the dollar theater to see Dan In Real Life. I loved it! For dinner, we went to the Inverarry Diner. It was okay food, but I was happy some place was open! Later that night, I went to Lani’s house. We played Beyond Balderdash with her family and then watched a movie: Equilibrium. It was good overall, but had some glitches. I still liked it though. Before bed, Lani, Robert (her dad) and I chatted for a bit. Then, we passed out for a few hours.
Wednesday, Dec 26th – Lani & I left for Butterfly World around 8:30am. We stopped for Dunkin Donuts first! Butterfly World was amazing! I love that place. I wish I could go more often. Liz, Skylar & Ashlyn met us there for the day. We had a great time. I got some fantastic photos. Liz & the girls couldn’t join us for dinner, as they had to pack for a 4-day trip to Disney. Lani & I met up with Jen M & Courtney for grub at the Beverly Hills Cafe in Cooper City. Great food! For dessert, we went to Rosie’s Water Ice…yum!
After dessert, Lani & I walked around the Pembroke Lakes Mall, then met up with Ryan at Hot Shots for some pool. We played cut-throat and had some drinks. It was great, low-key fun! We met Ryan’s friend Alex and some local fun, but odd guy named Juan. We meant to stay out only til 11pm or so, but we ended up out til after 1am. I dropped Lani off and went to Emily’s in Hollywood Beach. Em was sleeping, but she had stopped by BHC to give me a key earlier in the day.
Thursday, Dec 27th – Woke up and chatted with Em for a bit, then left at 10am to head up to Melbourne to see Nik, Jason, Halle & Erica. Relaxed at the Konicki’s, had lunch, played with Halle, then Erica came over and we went out for Thai food (yum). After dinner, Erica went home and Nik, Jay & I played Scene It. Jason kicked some ass! I don’t watch enough movies, but I had fun playing. Once the game was over, Nik was tired and I had a long drive ahead of me, so I got on the road. I got back to Em’s late and passed out soon after.
Friday, Dec 28th – Met up with my grandma at the Broward Mall for lunch at noon, then went shopping. I found nothing! Grandma left, and I drove over to the Sawgrass Mills Mall to see if my luck would be better there. It was, slightly. I got 3 pairs of Clarks (shoes) and 3 shirts (all short sleeve, as I was in desperate need for something to wear and only packed a few short sleeve shirts for this trip). Once I was on my way out of the mall (after walking the entire thing back and forth), I felt like death. I sat in the car with the air blasting and almost passed out. Instead, I got myself to Dunkin Donuts and got a Coolata. I then sought out a place to get a pedicure (as my feet were killing), but no luck. I found a Sally Beaty and bought a pedicure set in an attempt to make my toenails look prettier since I just bought some sandals. I got one foot painted and pedi’d before dinner.
Dinner was at Disalvo’s with my grandma, Sig, my aunt, uncle and cousins. It was so great to see everyone! My food was great, but my grandma hated her meal and complained the entire time. After dinner, I hung out with my aunt, uncle and cousins outside the restaurant for a bit before heading to Lani’s to pick her up for another night out. We met up with Emily and her friends Cannon & Paul for bowling at Manor Lanes. Lani & I got there early, so played some air hockey, had some drinks at the bar and put in for some karaoke! Em and the guys showed up shortly after and we started our game. It was a lot of fun. Lani & I put bowling aside for a few min to sing. I sang Toad’s Whatever I Fear and Lani sang Green Day’s When I Come Around. She sounded great. That was a really fun night! Lani came back with us to stay at Emily’s that night. Em was leaving early the next morning to go to Pebble Beach in Pacific Grove, CA so she had some packing to do after bowling. At 5am, I took her to the airport and then came back to sleep some more.
Saturday, Dec 29th – Lani & I woke up and went to the beach for a short walk before heading back up to central Broward. I dropped her off then went to my grandma’s to have lunch with her at the Country Club. I then finished painting my toes at her place before heading up to my aunt, uncle & cousin’s place to hang out for a few hours. At 6pm-ish, I left to pick up Lani and Penny. We went to Jaxson’s for ice cream, then to the Hard Rock Casino area to meet up with people. We ended up spending most of the night at the Blue Point Ocean Grill. Our waiter, Cory, was really helpful and fun to chat with. Janis, Ryan S., Ryan M., Jen & Jason met up with us there for a few drinks before wandering. Lots of people bailed or just didn’t show, sadly; but, the rest of us had a really great time. Janis & Jen rode the bull at one club, and we had some good drinks there too! We ended up at Murphy’s for a bit and I was on water detox at the time, so Janis & I went inside to dance for a few songs. Around 3am (or later), we went to the pizza place inside Hard Rock for some food before heading out. Ryan M. had to leave right away, as he had to be at work at 9am. Ryan S., Janis, Penny & I had some pizza then said good-bye’s.
I took Penny home first, and then got depressed about saying good-bye. Once I dropped Lani off I lost it (see previous post). I headed back to Emily’s, talking to Janis on the phone the whole way. I passed out pretty quickly (after checking my email and changing into jammies). It was 5am!
Sunday, Dec 30th – Woke up with a call from James at 11:30am. I slept through my 11am alarm. I threw some clothes on and met up with James for breakfast at a diner nearby. It was great to see him again before heading out. My friend Heather got sick, so I couldn’t see her (which I was hoping to do in the mid-day); so, I drove out to the everglades and went on an airboat ride. I just felt I had to reconnect with nature for a few ours since I spent so many days in the city. It was great. I got to see the swamps, lots of birds and other local wildlife (in the airboat company’s small barnyard). I’ll post pix sometime this week.
Around 3:30pm, I left the everglades to meet up with Brandon & Rachel at the Broward Mall. We looked for a shirt for Brandon, then went back to their place for a few minutes before dinner at Sublime (vegan fine dining). It was really great food! After dinner, we walked around Wilton Manors, went to a puppy store to pet cute things, then had some gelato at a local shop. Yum!!! It was great to chat and catch up!
We called it a night around 10pm, then I went back to Em’s to pack. I had trouble getting to sleep, but finally passed out around 1am.
Monday, Dec 31st – Woke up at 4am, got a shower and loaded the car. I refilled the rental and headed to FLL. I ended up at my terminal at 5:45am, super early! Luckily, I was in first class, so I got to go to my seat pretty early. First class is nice, but it’s hard to sleep… the seats are comfy, but too far from the window to lean on. Therefore, you have to sit up to sleep… ugh. I couldn’t; so, I ended up watching Hairspray and Stardust – both of which I’ve seen before. I LOVE Stardust. I really want to own this movie!
We got in slightly late, but dad was there waiting for me. We got my luggage and went to Santa Monica to have lunch at the Tudor House. Yum!!! Lots of yum this past week! After lunch, dad dropped me off at home. I fed the cats, changed the box and took a nap! Tonight, I’m heading over to Josh & Jul’s with Emma & Melanie. I wish John was coming home tonight, but his grandma is not feeling well; so, he’s staying in NY a little longer to spend time with her. I miss him so much!
Well, Happy New Year everyone!!!
Dec 31 2007