The Last Orlando Post

This will be the final posting from my apartment in Orlando. I have cancelled my internet connection and need to take the router back to Brighthouse and close my account. This past week has been pretty crazy getting everything sorted out and trying to hang out as much as possible with all my friends I’ll be sad to leave behind. I’ve had a great last few days at the office aswell as some extracurricular lunches, salons, theme parks, and wrestling tapings. I am going to miss a lot of people when I leave and will always look back on these past two years with fond memories. I will be back often visiting and crashing on everyone’s couches (just so you know guys) so this is far from good bye. Tomorrow is my last day at the office and we have organized a little get-to-gether at the Ale House after work before I head out. Sarah and I are heading out to the Godzik’s for a BBQ later today then stopping by Henry’s T-Bar to watch the Skins game. The apartment is packed for the most part with just a few extraneous jobs remaining. All that’s left is to turn in my keys and pack up the car really. It’s all happening very fast- will post again when able, probably from VA.

The Zollo to Quinones Post

Last night was Susan and Mike’s wedding. The ceremony was a close knit affair at Susan’s house with the arbor and walkway setup in the back yard. Lots of people filled the yard as Susan came down the aisle. It was really moving to see both her and Mike besides themselves in happiness, and the ceremony was quite nice. Sarah was down for the weekend, so it was great to be able to bring her along too. Due to the small nature of the wedding there weren’t that many people form the office who we knew, but Buck and Laura as well as Bruce and Stacey where there for the festivities. Victor was playing paparazzi the whole night, but it was great that he was able to make it out too, (even if Susan kept him working). After the food, eclectic-dances and many emotional toasts, Sarah and I headed down to Cricketer’s with Bruce and Stacey for some Newcastles and Scotch Eggs before crashing. It’s really comforting to see how happy two people can make each other, and I am just so glad for Susan that she has found someone like Mike who will devote himself and all he has to her. Congratulations guys.

The Mt. Dora Post

Yesterday I headed up to Mt. Dora to check out the Art Festival they hold up there every yeah. Bruce’s parents have a house just a few blocks from the downtown area, so Greg, Kathy and I headed there to hangout with the Godziks and their pugs before checking out the festival. Mt. Dora reminds me of a combination of New England and old town Leesburg. All the stores are definitely ‘mom-and-pop’ by nature and all the restaurants are unique and independent feeling. The art festival had the majority of the downtown area blocked off, with tents lining the streets and booths on every corner. Lots of artwork was on display, ranging from paintings and sculptures, to photographs and jewelry. I was hoping to scope out a canvas for my apartment, or at least snipe some ideas for something I could do myself, but unfortunately didn’t really find anything. The trip was far from a loss though as festival food was abundant, and anywhere you can get funnel cake is ok in my book. After checking it out (and getting baked in the sun- 89’ this weekend) we headed back to the house to chill before dinner. The kids where parking cars in the yard for $5 a pop and end up making over two hundred bucks between the three of them, off of suckers who came down to see the fair. Not a bad little business really. Ended up eating dinner at a Nordic restaurant, which was cool. Northing like a cold Moosehead and ‘Viking Burger’ to cap the day off. is a small lakeside town that reminds me of a mix between

The Little Brother Post

Jake visited me down here this past weekend for a short but sweet visit that we have both been looking forward to for a while. This was the first time he’d flown solo and I got the sense he was a little nervous, but he did fine and arrived with little issue (besides crazy people on his flight, but that’s his story to tell).

We had a great time hanging out, catching up, playing Xbox and going to theme parks. We hit Disney on Saturday and put a sizable dent in all 4 parks before putting a dent in some bangers and mash at the Rose and Crown restaurant in Epcot. I’ve never gotten the chance to eat at the pub before, only drink in the front area, so it was really nice to be able to get a reservation in early and plan around the meal (which was delicious incidentally).

Sunday we hit the Universal Parks and met up with Bruce and Stacy. Had a blast running about the parks trying out some of the rides Jake hadn’t had a chance to check out yet, plus all the classic coasters he loves. I went on Ripsaw Falls for the first time and got absolutely soaked. Unfortunately we waited till the end of the day to give it a whirl, so the sun was all but vacant when we needed it the most, and we stood around shivering and dripping wet until we made it to the gift shop to get some drier clothes. On a hot summer’s day the ride would be awesome. But in 50-degree January weather….not so much. we filled our faces with far to much food with the 'Meal Deal' plan they have at the parks (pay once eat whenever you want at specified locations). I don't want another cheeseburger for a year.

Took Jake back to the airport this morning before work. Shame to see him head back so soon, but nice to know he had as much fun hanging out with his brother as I did.

The Celtic Games Post

This weekend was the Orlando Celtic Games festival just a little north of here in Winter Springs. I headed out there to check it out, and met up with the Godziks. The festival was pretty cool and had all the clans present in booth form recruiting new members. I quickly found the Macpherson tent and made friends with the people there, then wandered over with them to the kilt tent with some hot chocolate for the guy working there (he was cold). Nice guy, sized me up for a kilt, and extended a nice discount because I was a Macpherson, and the women at our clan tent had been bringing him drinks all weekend. Didn’t drop the money to get a kilt, due to the step price, but have all his information for a later order (he’s based out of Edinburgh). The highland games were pretty cool and had everything from hammer and axe throwing to caber and bail tossing. What’s with all Scottish games involving throwing something? Chugged a few Irn-Bru and scoffed down a sausage roll while meandering from tent to tent. It was a fun day, though I wasn’t able to track down a clan crest like Bob’s, regrettably, and didn’t get a chance to show of my Lairdship to anyone.

If you didn't know; a Laird is a Scottish Lord, and is a title that I now hold thanks to an awesome Christmas present from my cousin Craig. I now own a small plot of land in South Angus, Scotland, which entitles me to use the noble title. Read my blog, peasants!

The Puggy Post

Stacey spent the her birthday this weekend up in Pennsylvania picking out the newest addition to the Godzik family from a litter of fresh pug puppies. Bruce went out to pick her up from the airport today and brought the new puppy to the office for a visit. I'm not really a fan of the handbag-dogs, but this little thing was adorable! They are still debating what to call her, but I'm sure they won't have a hard time picking something suitable. The little tike enjoyed running about down the green mile* and meeting all the new people that came out of their offices to visit her as she ran past (little waddly legs and all). I gave her a little chew toy I picked up at the pet shop which she seemed to really enjoy, though she got tuckered out pretty quickly and fell as well in Stacey's arms.

*The long, green-carpeted hallways at the office.

The 2008 Post

First positing of ‘08! Happy New Year to everyone. I hope that last year was a good one, and that this one is even better. Sarah and I celebrated with Bruce and Stacey at Mark’s house last night which was nice. We met up beforehand at BJ’s Brewhouse for some (always) excellent food then headed out to the Orlando outskirts where Mark lives. Mark’s house is on a hill (which is a geographical rarity in Florida) that overlooks most of Orlando. We could see all the fireworks going over during the evening at the various theme parks. The most impressive of which where the 12:00 Disney ones by far. Though some of the fireworks Mark was setting off in the back yard where pretty impressive and where definitely the best at-home displays I’ve ever seen. Besides explosives the evening included a five-year-old running headfirst into a closed, sliding-glass door, as well as an out of control pallet fire in the groves next to Mark’s house. So entertaining to say the least.

After toasting in the New Year we headed off to Cricketer’s Arms to attempt to fill Stacey’s need for some Scotch Eggs. Arriving at 1:30 we weren’t all that surprised to find the kitchen closed. But the bar was still bustling and a lot of fun. Had a good laugh with Phil (the owner), that he won’t remember in the morning, and had a nice cap on a fun evening out. Bruce and Stacey are loads of fun, and I know Sarah had a good time.

The Short Notice Visit Post

Last week Sarah came down for an unexpected visit. With only one days heads up I didn’t get the chance to anticipate her arrival, so I spent the majority of last Wednesday cleaning profusely. We had a great time hanging about together, watching copious amounts of Scrubs episodes and getting stoked for the final Potter next weekend. Did a little apartment hunting as my lease here is up in a few short months too. Hunter’s Creek is the only area we spent any time poking about, but it seems really nice and a reasonably priced place to live. Bruce and Stacey treated us to a terrific dinner at PF Changs on Saturday which was really great, and we attempted to catch some stand up comedy one night at CityWalk (but arrived too late to get any tickets). Visited the new Cricketer’s Arms pub at Festival Bay as well which as cool, and watched comic/singer (Howie something or other) do his thing, which was hilarious and very entertaining. Plus I had my first scotch-egg in a good 10 years…delicious. It was a shame to see her go so quickly as I do so get used to having her around, but she had an interview today she needed to be back for that could work out nicely (with a transfer down here) if she lands it, so I’m ok with it.

The Fireworks Post

Last night I met up with the Godzik’s at CityWalk to catch a movie and watch the Universal fireworks display. All the parks go to town for their Independence Day firework displays so you really can’t go wrong if you head to either or. But CityWalk doesn’t require park access, has a movie theater (I was itching for some Transformers) and is right next to the Hard Rock Hotel, which is where we headed to kill time before the big show. Spent dsome time throwing some air-hockey matches to Bruce’s kids in the arcade, had some really good crab cakes at The Kitchen, and the mosied back to the Universal gate to catch the show. The fireworks were pretty impressive. The sheer volume of explosions and colors in the short time span the show ran for was really impressive. Short, but sweet is definitely how I’d describe it. I caught the last few seconds with my camera which you can check out below. Leaving the area was INSANE. There were over 30,000 people surging towards the exits after the last bang, and it was almost scary how packed it got. You could have body-surfed all the way from the JP ride in the back of Islands of Adventure right to your car door… it was nuts. And traffic was abysmal leaving, as you’d expect. I actually stayed back and spent some more time on the strip while the lemmings marched out. Still had to wait my fair share in the parking deck but it would have been ten times the wait had I left with the masses.