Month: February 2008

Categories
Blogging

Tuesday Night Grab Bag O’ Thoughts

It’s Tuesday night in Europe (as I type this at 10:38 AM), so I’m ready with 10 items of interest for this week’s ‘Grab Bag’:

1.  I took the day off from work today. I scheduled this day off weeks ago to coincide with the three-day holiday weekend. That makes it a four-day holiday weekend for me. It worked so well in conjunction with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday that I decided to do it all over again.

2.  I gave blood this morning at Quest Diagnostics on Krome Avenue in Homestead. Because of that I intentionally fasted for more than 16 hours beforehand. The fast came to an abrupt end this morning at 8:30 AM at the Cracker Barrel in Florida City.

3.  ‘Reunited And It Feels So Good’:  I’ve been reunited with my former longtime waitress at IHOP. Now she’s my new waitress at Cracker Barrel. I received top-notch service and conversation, and she assisted me in picking out the perfect breakfast of champions.

4.  I dug right in to my MASSIVE four-slice plate of French Toast with authentic maple syrup. You know you’re eating a MASSIVE meal when the two eggs (scrambled with American cheese mixed in) is a side item !

5.  Travis and Kelly recently took their kids to Wannado City where kids work various dream jobs, earn wongas, and then spend their hard-earned wongas. If they had a Wannado City for adults then I think that I’d like to be a television weatherman, a commercial voice-over announcer, a radio deejay, and a zookeeper. Say what ?

6.  My little brother recently started up his own WordPress blog. He’ll be reviewing pop culture on it (movies, television shows, music, etc.). Here’s some special advice to my brother. If you post then they will come. People pretty much know what they are going to get and when they are going to get it here on this blog with all of the regular and recurring topics and features on various days of the week. You are here on a Tuesday because you expect to find the ‘Grab Bag O’ Thoughts’, and you found it. Start small, and gradually build your loyal blogging audience. The blogosphere is awaiting.

7.  ‘When Eras Collide’:  I had a vivid dream last night that included my brother, our childhood Manx cat (Fluffy), and my Life Group at Anne’s house. In this dream my vibrant (late-1980s era) cat jumped out of Anne’s window into her backyard and killed a creature with a long bushy tail (possibly a skunk) dead in its tracks. I ran after Fluffy which was rather easy to do because once she realized that she was actually outside she became terrified. (She was always an indoor cat.) I picked Fluffy up, brought her back inside, and we continued on with our Life Group fellowship.

8.  If Homestead ever starts getting on your nerves then simply go on a short road-trip somewhere else. When you return rejuvenated then you’ll realize just how much you really love and appreciate what we have here. Homestead Sweet Home.

9.  In 1984 President Ronald W. Reagan did not make age an issue of the campaign. He did not exploit, for political purposes, his opponent’s youth and inexperience. It’s 24 years later, and the more things change the more they stay the same. Meet John McCain and Barack Obama.

10.  Spring Break 2008 has begun all across the great United States Of America. Sins are being committed, souls are being lost, innocence is being stolen, and Satan is a busy man hard at work to put all of this in motion. If you wake up from the darkness then I can show you all the things that you heard about from ‘Up Above’. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Walk with me.

Categories
Food

Applebee’s: It’s What’s For Dinner

So I unintentionally went nearly 24 hours without eating food from Saturday night through Sunday night. During that time I drove a little over 200 miles from Homestead to Fort Myers and I also walked a couple of miles.

The hunger fest came to an abrupt end last night at the Applebee’s across the street from my hotel in Estero.

Here’s what was on my menu:

Shrimp ‘N Parmesan Sirloin
  • Shrimp ‘N Parmesan Sirloin (cooked medium-well)
  • Cheddar-Jack Mac & Cheese
  • Creamed Spinach
  • Maple Butter Blondie

Maple Butter Blondie The meal was MASSIVE, and it was outrageously delicious !

You know we really need to get an Applebee’s down here in the Homestead / Florida City area. Hey, wait a minute !

Categories
Animals Driving Health Holidays Shopping Travel

The Major’s Walk-A-Thon: Special On-Location Edition – Fort Myers, Estero, & Naples

I have returned home safely from my short 31-hour / 370-mile road-trip vacation over to Florida’s Gulf coast and back. Here are some thoughts:

1.  In addition to the 370 miles that I drove I think I walked at least 5 miles at various tourist attractions, events, and other places. It’s a good thing that my legs are my most powerful limbs. I got a great workout this weekend. It is now time to relax at home.

2.  I really enjoyed the Edison & Ford Winter Estates. I spent a good two hours there on Sunday afternoon walking around all throughout the compound. The coolest part of it all was the back portion of the actual homes of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford and the walking trail that runs right along the banks of the Caloosahatchee River. This is a place that I could return back to next year and enjoy all over again.

3.  I spent the night at a one-year-old Hampton Inn in Estero right across the Interstate from the Germain Arena. Of all of the Hampton Inns that I’ve stayed at over the past decade or so this was definitely the best of them all. It’s a no-brainer. I’ll be staying there again on my next visit to the area.

4.  This morning I walked all around the Miromar Outlets next to the Germain Arena. This is how an outdoor factory outlet mall is supposed to look like. If I lived near Estero then this would be where I (and my VISA card) would hang out on a regular basis.

5.  I walked a good mile-and-a-half at the Naples Zoo this afternoon. I’ve been there once before, and I’ll be back again on my next visit. I love that place !  It’s laid out beautifully. I love to walk, and I love hanging out with animals. The Naples Zoo offers me both opportunities. If I lived near Naples then I’d become a member of the zoo and visit over and over again.

I think it’s official now. The Orlando area is not where I wish to live when I retire in about 15 to 20 years. I think you’ll find me living peacefully and happily ever after over in the Fort Myers / Estero / Naples area sometime in the future.

Categories
Driving Holidays Shopping Travel

Happy Presidents’ Day

It’s Presidents’ Day all across the great United States Of America, so you just know what that means. You bring in your dead presidents on legal tender, and we’ll sell you a brand new mattress for up to 50% off !  We’ve got King size, Queen size, Twin size, and all in-between size !  Come and check us out today !  Our selection is impeccable !  We’ll even deliver your fresh new mattress to your home and haul away your old one !  Do it today !

Seriously though I’m headed over to the Germain Arena this morning (I can see it from here) to attend the Faith & Family Expo. That’s where this morning’s Walk-A-Thon takes me. Later today it’s the long 160-mile trip back home again to Homestead.

Have a great holiday everyone !