This will have to happen in chapters. Too much to put down in one setting. Ok-basic impressions. Took off out of Lansing the 17th at 5 am heading to Flint-minus zero temperature so we would totally appreciate it when we got to Florida. Of course contrary to popular advice, we over packed! Who knew you would wear the same shorts and tacky t-shirt each morning until you had to dress for dinner? Where you would graduate to longer shorts and nicer t-shirts? The poker faces of all who served were awe-inspiring. No doubt they attend "how to look at tackily dressed tourists as they may be sitting on a cool million or ten that they may inflict upon you if you ignore their tacky t shirts and shorts?" Aha! simple economics.
Arrived in Ft Lauderdale and found a friendly cabbie to the hotel. Couldn't understand each other, but I'm still guessing friendly. Hyatt Regency-Pier 66 -what? Poison dix? Hyatt. Hey Zeus? Pier 66. Pick up sticks? Here's the f----g address. Oh yes-Hyatt Regency. No - Hotel 6 you crazy cabbie. Come on. The place sports mucho expensive rooms, a marina where God parks his/her yacht and a restaurant on the top of the building so big it has its own lighthouse. Well there's $20 I won't see again. WTF we're on vacation. Go with the flow. Caught up with everyone later in the evening. But first I had a blind date with Marcie's friend Ramah in the bar who knew what I looked like but I didn't know what she looked like. Must have walked up to 14 single women (and men) saying Ramah, Roma, Nemo, Screamo until someone with an infectious laugh finally acknowledged me. As I said this place is where the Supreme Being would park if he/she took a vacation. So apparently I was trying to hit on lesser gods. The bartender was fun though. (see note above about not judging a customer by their tacky shorts and t shirts).
Dinner was a hilarious affair with much noise and exotic cocktails. Dad and I can't hear so most of the hilarity went over our heads. Just smile and nod-works on so many levels. Apparently we all hit our various beds at different times and levels of inebriation. Some, who shall remain nameless, were carried to bed, but all were up and at 'em the next day which is all a vacation asks of us. After silliness with Hispanic named pens (I am Jose by the way), more exotic cocktails and general malaise, we toddle off to the boat. Loading two vans with all of the over packed luggage became symbolic of every venture. 14 people and their various articles of comfort create quite a caravan. Trekking over the alps with elephants would have been simpler, but then I will defend my need for several types of footwear, because, well, you just never know! However I will admit, though I tried to change several times, I did not wear all I brought. Plus I bought more which extended my inability to wear everything exponentially.
Take off Sunday afternoon was dramatic (no, no one fell overboard), romantic and celebratory with glasses of wine and extreme overtures to all those on shore who toasted our high seas adventure. Very cool from the balcony. And I found where my first on board bar was located (to buy the Bon Voyage wine) with my new friend Ramah.
Chapter 2 to follow.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
WINTER DRIVING RANT
Why is it that Michigan drivers, who should know better, cannot drive in bad weather? News Flash! You cannot go the speed limit with a couple inches of snow over black ice. Your first clue would be meeting the back end of your car as you naively believe you are moving forward. Not natural - get a clue.
I am the innocent bystander cautiously feeling my way, testing my brakes and providing room between me and the one in front. Which obviously means to those in back of me that I AM NOT GOING FAST ENOUGH. Thus they now need to educate me by climbing on my bumper and staying there. I believe I should charge rent for carrying said freeloaders. I smile benignly as they race around me at the earliest opportunity. No wait, I smile benignly as we meet up later at their ditch of choice. Much more satisfying than wearing out that middle finger as I need both hands for the wheel.
I am the innocent bystander cautiously feeling my way, testing my brakes and providing room between me and the one in front. Which obviously means to those in back of me that I AM NOT GOING FAST ENOUGH. Thus they now need to educate me by climbing on my bumper and staying there. I believe I should charge rent for carrying said freeloaders. I smile benignly as they race around me at the earliest opportunity. No wait, I smile benignly as we meet up later at their ditch of choice. Much more satisfying than wearing out that middle finger as I need both hands for the wheel.
HOLIDAY SCENES - 2008
The weather has not been cooperating this holiday season. I used to love winter until I realized I had to drive in it!! Which means I have apparently hated it many more years than I liked it. Which kind of negates the whole I used to love winter thingee. Oh well.
I think it was Mother who noted a little snow on Christmas Eve is nice as long as it stays on the grassy areas. Maybe she didn't say that, but it sounds like her. Not to mention the cold and thaw and freezing rain, and oh did I mention the fog???? The plan was Christmas Eve prime rib at the Davis' but we all wimped out based on the weather forecast. Of course now that Lori works in White Hall, wimping out because of weather is a way of life. Anyway everyone but Brandon got the word, but I assume they fed him anyway.
We switched it to Saturday and ran into a little fog. Ha Ha, a little fog. You couldn't have cut through that fog with a mix master. Led to a very entertaining trip over and back. The return trip in fog so thick you were just hoping to glimpse the lines in the road occasionally much like the hot rod Lincoln song "the lines on the road just looked like dots". The Burt man just plowed through at 60 MPH and I clutched the door handle all the way home, like what was I going to do? Jump out if there was an imminent crash? Matt was cool and Kristen was nauseated the entire way back so I am very glad the windows on the Buick open wide enough if we needed it if you get my drift LOL. At any rate the dinner and appetizers were totally worth it.
We had the usual dinner at Chez Ide for Christmas day. We tried a little duck with the ham as we did not do the turkey this year. Though what I'm going to do with a 23 lb turkey down the road I have no idea. It was exotic and we cooked it beer can style on the grill. Brian and I enjoyed duck liver, er excuse me, pate untreated - still good. Then everyone but the cook had a little duck which meant the cook never got a taste! Oh well. After dinner we enjoyed a raucous Naughty Santa where the "jewish" boys traded the most times (a new record). Wait a minute they don't celebrate Christmas- oh well, everyone stays, everyone plays.
Of course independently the Committee got gifts for each other ranging from horoscope jewelry, Mother-inspired butterflies and bracelets. So funny Kristen got gifts for us that were the same that we got for each other! But hers were nicer and more expensive so we stayed with her choices. Obviously she knows what we wanted!
Some of the Committee and one rep from the Junior Committee got together for a hilarious luncheon at the Beltline Bar between Christmas and New Year's. It's so strange, but so great to hang with my daughter as one of the "girls" and have a blast. She is a riot and fits right in with the older "girls" no problem. I was honored to be included and I probably would have been ok not being invited, but she knows me better than myself.
New Year's Eve was another gathering with mucho good food, mostly appetizers. We began with English crackers where each participant got a different toned whistle. Brian volunteered as conductor and we proceeded to render great harm to beloved Christmas carols. Course it's hard to toot your horn when you are laughing hysterically. We would have been much better after a couple of drinks or at least we assumed so. We decided not to test out that theory.
Next we had a very spirited and cutthroat game of Trivia '90. And either my sister or my daughter said "Sweet" actually means "competitive" in our language. We do not play to lose..... I still contend we would have won if my beloved but stubborn psychologist brother-in-law did not require scientific proof of every right answer I blurted out! Ann Murry indeed! Of course his recollection of our ongoing altercations may be different. I do remember thumping him a few times as he inadvertently offered clues to the competition. ARGGHHHH - I do not lose at Trivia.
Then for 2 hours I proceeded to lose at every hand of poker. I made up for it the last half hour and made back all my losses. Course I wouldn't have let anyone quit until I did. Hey if Mother could play all night so can I. Then we all collapsed on various air mattresses and beds at Marcie's place. But of course that couldn't be the end of it.
Burt and my mattress slowly deflated over the first half hour quietly and insistently. When I realized I could not turn over without rolling into the middle gasping for air like a freaking beached whale, we ended up on either end of the couch, my feet on his stomach. Much giggling ensued and then next thing I knew the Burt was on the floor in his sleeping bag. And Jamie slept through the whole debacle! Ahh to be an eleven year old boy. Needless to say we were on the road early the next day and proceeded to crash New Year's Day.
I think it was Mother who noted a little snow on Christmas Eve is nice as long as it stays on the grassy areas. Maybe she didn't say that, but it sounds like her. Not to mention the cold and thaw and freezing rain, and oh did I mention the fog???? The plan was Christmas Eve prime rib at the Davis' but we all wimped out based on the weather forecast. Of course now that Lori works in White Hall, wimping out because of weather is a way of life. Anyway everyone but Brandon got the word, but I assume they fed him anyway.
We switched it to Saturday and ran into a little fog. Ha Ha, a little fog. You couldn't have cut through that fog with a mix master. Led to a very entertaining trip over and back. The return trip in fog so thick you were just hoping to glimpse the lines in the road occasionally much like the hot rod Lincoln song "the lines on the road just looked like dots". The Burt man just plowed through at 60 MPH and I clutched the door handle all the way home, like what was I going to do? Jump out if there was an imminent crash? Matt was cool and Kristen was nauseated the entire way back so I am very glad the windows on the Buick open wide enough if we needed it if you get my drift LOL. At any rate the dinner and appetizers were totally worth it.
We had the usual dinner at Chez Ide for Christmas day. We tried a little duck with the ham as we did not do the turkey this year. Though what I'm going to do with a 23 lb turkey down the road I have no idea. It was exotic and we cooked it beer can style on the grill. Brian and I enjoyed duck liver, er excuse me, pate untreated - still good. Then everyone but the cook had a little duck which meant the cook never got a taste! Oh well. After dinner we enjoyed a raucous Naughty Santa where the "jewish" boys traded the most times (a new record). Wait a minute they don't celebrate Christmas- oh well, everyone stays, everyone plays.
Of course independently the Committee got gifts for each other ranging from horoscope jewelry, Mother-inspired butterflies and bracelets. So funny Kristen got gifts for us that were the same that we got for each other! But hers were nicer and more expensive so we stayed with her choices. Obviously she knows what we wanted!
Some of the Committee and one rep from the Junior Committee got together for a hilarious luncheon at the Beltline Bar between Christmas and New Year's. It's so strange, but so great to hang with my daughter as one of the "girls" and have a blast. She is a riot and fits right in with the older "girls" no problem. I was honored to be included and I probably would have been ok not being invited, but she knows me better than myself.
New Year's Eve was another gathering with mucho good food, mostly appetizers. We began with English crackers where each participant got a different toned whistle. Brian volunteered as conductor and we proceeded to render great harm to beloved Christmas carols. Course it's hard to toot your horn when you are laughing hysterically. We would have been much better after a couple of drinks or at least we assumed so. We decided not to test out that theory.
Next we had a very spirited and cutthroat game of Trivia '90. And either my sister or my daughter said "Sweet" actually means "competitive" in our language. We do not play to lose..... I still contend we would have won if my beloved but stubborn psychologist brother-in-law did not require scientific proof of every right answer I blurted out! Ann Murry indeed! Of course his recollection of our ongoing altercations may be different. I do remember thumping him a few times as he inadvertently offered clues to the competition. ARGGHHHH - I do not lose at Trivia.
Then for 2 hours I proceeded to lose at every hand of poker. I made up for it the last half hour and made back all my losses. Course I wouldn't have let anyone quit until I did. Hey if Mother could play all night so can I. Then we all collapsed on various air mattresses and beds at Marcie's place. But of course that couldn't be the end of it.
Burt and my mattress slowly deflated over the first half hour quietly and insistently. When I realized I could not turn over without rolling into the middle gasping for air like a freaking beached whale, we ended up on either end of the couch, my feet on his stomach. Much giggling ensued and then next thing I knew the Burt was on the floor in his sleeping bag. And Jamie slept through the whole debacle! Ahh to be an eleven year old boy. Needless to say we were on the road early the next day and proceeded to crash New Year's Day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
