Several days earlier I was digging my van out of snow. Today, I was eating
breakfast at the pool, enjoying an 85 degree day
In the early 1990's I
hired a guy to work for me and we quickly became friends. We worked together for
16 years through various organizations. Then, in January 2007 he decided to move
to Boca Raton. In the book Marley and Me, the main character lives in Boca
Raton. One day his boss makes him go on vacation. In the book the author asks
"When you live in paradise, where do you go on vacation?"
We spent the
day touring paradise with the friend I haven't seen in 6 years, then had dinner.
We walked on a pier, hit a bar, and then took a driving tour past all the
mansions. He told stories of how he fishes along the shore and all the strange
creatures he has hooked over the years. As a result he refuses to go into the
water more than ankle deep because he knows what is swimming out there!
Oddly, a year after visiting these beaches? There were video of schools
if sharks swimming along the beach and around swimmers. I guess he was right!
Ankle deep is deep enough for me now.
Long after this trip was over I
still remembered eating breakfast outside at the pool in the middle of winter!
Relocating To Disney
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
House Sitter
This year's trip to Florida will be 37 days (5 days traveling, 32 enjoying
Disney and the surrounding area). That is a long time to leave our house!
Leaving a house for any period of time requires a plan: house sitting, pets,
lawn, and plants.
My college aged daughter wants to stay home again this year. She wants to spend the summer with her friends and making money. She will house sit and take care of the pets.
My parents live close. My Dad is in retirement and loves taking care of the lawn (any excuse to get is riding lawn mower out). My mother will keep an eye on my daughter to make sure parties are kept to a minimal.
For last year's trip I found a great deal on wireless security cameras and placed them inside and outside the house at various locations. The cameras are great because in addition to recording they alert our cell phones and send us pictures when they detect motion.
We have 55 feet of flower beds that require a lot of work. More work than my daughter really has an appreciation for. So this year I am trying to install a watering system. I purchased a hose that acts like a sprinkler and ran it through the flowers, connected to an automated timer. What I learned is the sprinkler isn't sprinkling all the flowers. This weekend I will add a soaker hose to the gardens.
Long trips need a plan. Our plan is in place!
My college aged daughter wants to stay home again this year. She wants to spend the summer with her friends and making money. She will house sit and take care of the pets.
My parents live close. My Dad is in retirement and loves taking care of the lawn (any excuse to get is riding lawn mower out). My mother will keep an eye on my daughter to make sure parties are kept to a minimal.
For last year's trip I found a great deal on wireless security cameras and placed them inside and outside the house at various locations. The cameras are great because in addition to recording they alert our cell phones and send us pictures when they detect motion.
We have 55 feet of flower beds that require a lot of work. More work than my daughter really has an appreciation for. So this year I am trying to install a watering system. I purchased a hose that acts like a sprinkler and ran it through the flowers, connected to an automated timer. What I learned is the sprinkler isn't sprinkling all the flowers. This weekend I will add a soaker hose to the gardens.
Long trips need a plan. Our plan is in place!
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Florida Real Estate
Our plan is to move to Florida someday. I would go tomorrow if I could, but
there are many factors that place our move years into the future.
In 2013 we toured several communities to get an understanding of the area. It is very difficult to look at houses on the Internet without the perspective of knowing the towns, cities, and areas. Driving through the neighborhoods was very educational. For example, in Alta Monte Springs the poor neighborhoods are mixed in with the better neighborhoods so you really have to look at the surrounding area.
When we toured in 2013 we used an Internet real estate site and a map. It wasn't very effective. Many of the houses we wanted to see sat behind gated communities. We did attend one open house near the house we were renting and had the best experience.
For this year, I contacted the real estate agent we have been working with. Because our purchase is so far away I don't want to waste her time. Instead, I just asked her for a list of open houses. Our hope is that we can just tour open houses this year to help us understand out options.
The odd thing we keep coming back to? We really like the neighborhood we are renting in (Indian Creek). Perhaps the answer will be the west gate area of Kissimmee?
In 2013 we toured several communities to get an understanding of the area. It is very difficult to look at houses on the Internet without the perspective of knowing the towns, cities, and areas. Driving through the neighborhoods was very educational. For example, in Alta Monte Springs the poor neighborhoods are mixed in with the better neighborhoods so you really have to look at the surrounding area.
When we toured in 2013 we used an Internet real estate site and a map. It wasn't very effective. Many of the houses we wanted to see sat behind gated communities. We did attend one open house near the house we were renting and had the best experience.
For this year, I contacted the real estate agent we have been working with. Because our purchase is so far away I don't want to waste her time. Instead, I just asked her for a list of open houses. Our hope is that we can just tour open houses this year to help us understand out options.
The odd thing we keep coming back to? We really like the neighborhood we are renting in (Indian Creek). Perhaps the answer will be the west gate area of Kissimmee?
Monday, May 26, 2014
Space Bags
We go shopping before every Disney trip. The kids always outgrow their summer
clothes and we need to load up on bathing suites, shorts, tank tops, flip flops,
and sun screen.
We have invented a unique way to pack. Packing for 37 days ( even with access to a washer) requires taking a lot of items. Our minivan is stuffed full. Our answer is to pack everything that we can into space bags. Space bags are bags that allow you to suck out the air using a vacuum cleaner. Some items, like clothes, compact into incredibly small blocks. The space bags are water proof, bug proof, and stack easily. Since we are renting a house and the houses always have vacuums, we are assured we will be able to deflate the bags for the trip home.
Our shopping is finished and we have a good stock of space bags. With only around 4 weeks left before we leave we are getting very excited!
We have invented a unique way to pack. Packing for 37 days ( even with access to a washer) requires taking a lot of items. Our minivan is stuffed full. Our answer is to pack everything that we can into space bags. Space bags are bags that allow you to suck out the air using a vacuum cleaner. Some items, like clothes, compact into incredibly small blocks. The space bags are water proof, bug proof, and stack easily. Since we are renting a house and the houses always have vacuums, we are assured we will be able to deflate the bags for the trip home.
Our shopping is finished and we have a good stock of space bags. With only around 4 weeks left before we leave we are getting very excited!
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Running Program
Here are some of my times as I prepare for Disney. I'm not breaking any records here, just trying for a goal of 5 miles in 12 minute miles so that I can run every morning while at Disney. In addition to running, I spend an hour on an elliptical every day to help prepare. Here are some of my times:
4/8 12.2 mm/2.5 miles
4/13 12.3mm/2.5 miles
4/15 11.9mm/ 2.5 miles
4/23 11.85mm/3 miles
4/29 11/6mm/3 miles
5/1 11.6mm/3 miles
5/8 11.3mm/3/5 miles
5/13 11.3mm/3.5 miles
5/14 9.3mm/4 miles
5/21 11.3mm/ 5.3 miles
5/25 11.2mm/5.35 miles
4/8 12.2 mm/2.5 miles
4/13 12.3mm/2.5 miles
4/15 11.9mm/ 2.5 miles
4/23 11.85mm/3 miles
4/29 11/6mm/3 miles
5/1 11.6mm/3 miles
5/8 11.3mm/3/5 miles
5/13 11.3mm/3.5 miles
5/14 9.3mm/4 miles
5/21 11.3mm/ 5.3 miles
5/25 11.2mm/5.35 miles
2013: Fork and Screen
After work yesterday, we headed into Down Town Disney to experience
AMC's Fork and Screen. This is where you watch a movie and eat dinner
at the same time!
All the movies were sold out except for Disney's Lone Ranger. The Lone Ranger is Disney's latest flop staring Johnny Depp. They attempted to recreate the Pirate of the Caribbean franchise. But instead they created a $200M loss. No one cares about westerns anymore. No one knows the actor who played The Lone Ranger. No one remembers the Lone Ranger. And they went for a younger audience but made the movie unnecessarily PG13. They put too much crap into the movie that took away from the story. Mix that with a story that was suffering from ADHD, and you produce a very expensive flop - on the magnitude of John Carter.
The dining experience was nice. The chairs are similar to a lazy boy that reclines back allowing one to rest their legs on bars that run under the table. When it is time to eat, however, it becomes a challenge to sit on the edge of the seat so you can lean on the bar like table. The tables are dimly lit and it is nearly impossible to see anything. When you need the waitress, you press a button and wait, and wait, and forget she is coming and get back into the movie and then WHAM there she is. She gives you a quick 15 seconds to explain what you need before running away.
There is a challenge with eating in the dark. It didn't know it until I put it in my mouth that my Macaroni and Cheese was covered in Ritz crackers. All I could do is sink my fork into the darkness of my bowl and hope I stabbed something I wouldn't regret putting into my mouth. My son, who was dipping his French fries, kept accidentally dipping into the mustard!
The ticket prices were expensive, but not unreasonable (as movie tickets go these days) - $11 for a non 3d movie. As everyone knows by the popcorn and candy prices, eating at a movie is very expensive. And eating dinner is outrageous. My wife and I had Macaroni and Cheese (with chicken and bacon). One son had a burger and Another had a grilled cheese. We split deserts. With tax and tip it came to nearly $100 (not including the movie ticket).
Would I do it again? Probably not. I thought the idea of dining while watching a movie was a great idea. But now that I have experienced it? I think that eating a big bucket of popcorn is better than trying to eat a dinner, and would be a lot cheaper.
All the movies were sold out except for Disney's Lone Ranger. The Lone Ranger is Disney's latest flop staring Johnny Depp. They attempted to recreate the Pirate of the Caribbean franchise. But instead they created a $200M loss. No one cares about westerns anymore. No one knows the actor who played The Lone Ranger. No one remembers the Lone Ranger. And they went for a younger audience but made the movie unnecessarily PG13. They put too much crap into the movie that took away from the story. Mix that with a story that was suffering from ADHD, and you produce a very expensive flop - on the magnitude of John Carter.
The dining experience was nice. The chairs are similar to a lazy boy that reclines back allowing one to rest their legs on bars that run under the table. When it is time to eat, however, it becomes a challenge to sit on the edge of the seat so you can lean on the bar like table. The tables are dimly lit and it is nearly impossible to see anything. When you need the waitress, you press a button and wait, and wait, and forget she is coming and get back into the movie and then WHAM there she is. She gives you a quick 15 seconds to explain what you need before running away.
There is a challenge with eating in the dark. It didn't know it until I put it in my mouth that my Macaroni and Cheese was covered in Ritz crackers. All I could do is sink my fork into the darkness of my bowl and hope I stabbed something I wouldn't regret putting into my mouth. My son, who was dipping his French fries, kept accidentally dipping into the mustard!
The ticket prices were expensive, but not unreasonable (as movie tickets go these days) - $11 for a non 3d movie. As everyone knows by the popcorn and candy prices, eating at a movie is very expensive. And eating dinner is outrageous. My wife and I had Macaroni and Cheese (with chicken and bacon). One son had a burger and Another had a grilled cheese. We split deserts. With tax and tip it came to nearly $100 (not including the movie ticket).
Would I do it again? Probably not. I thought the idea of dining while watching a movie was a great idea. But now that I have experienced it? I think that eating a big bucket of popcorn is better than trying to eat a dinner, and would be a lot cheaper.
Saturday, May 24, 2014
2012: Broken Toe
Some of my favorite times on vacation are when I go to the gym, walk around the
hotel's neighborhood, or take long hikes up and down the beach. All those
things, I have determined, are difficult to do when you have a broken toe. It
would be nice if I could say I broke it during a wild volleyball game or jumping
off the pier. No. I walked into a chair. But it was a very large stealthy
chair.
There is nothing you can do for a broken toe other than take aspirin and drink heavily - both of which I have done in excess.
Today was beach, bikinis, hula dancers, and margaritas. I'm not looking forward to trading this for a snow shovel next week.
There is nothing you can do for a broken toe other than take aspirin and drink heavily - both of which I have done in excess.
Today was beach, bikinis, hula dancers, and margaritas. I'm not looking forward to trading this for a snow shovel next week.
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