MainNewLook

All trip ratings are on a 1 - 10 scale: 1 the worst, 10 the best, 4 roughly equivalent to watching Jeopardy on t.v. with my mom.

12/25/05

Leaving Christmas Celebration early: 1.5

Realizing I was leaving to go to Florida: 9.5

Wacky bus ride to "real" airport terminal on runway right next to planes: 1.25 (really scary at night for second consecutive year!)

Sleeping virtually entire way to Fort Lauderdale: 9.75

12/26/05

Arriving at Fort Lauderdale: 9.5

Z showing up at baggage claim despite it being roughly 6AM: 9

Z distracting me such that I missed the begining of the great Fort Lauderdale baggage claim music: 2

The music itself: 7.5

Not knowing what the music actually was (it had changed since last year!): 2

Z agreeing to take a nap when we got back to his condo: 8

Me telling him "Let's wake up around 9 to go golfing", followed by him waking me up after noon: 9.5

Weather: 8

Golf at Palm Aire on the Oaks: 8

Playing pretty well after a poor start: 8

Having Z play well and the match being back-n-forth: 8

Having it go to the wire: 8

Having Z miss par putts that would have tied it on 17 and 18: 8

Dinner and drinks at the Roadhouse: 8.5

Upstairs Bar being closed: 2

Our "friend", bartender Scott, not being there: 1.5

Us not getting free beer as a result: 1.5

Us being there during Happy Hour: 9

Our happiness as a result: 9.5

Z having a free appitizer card: 8

Me being able to cut and paste the above ratings verbatim from last year's trip to the Roadhouse: 9.5

Not remembering much else of this night: 2

That being par-for-the-course for Roadhouse happy hour: 8

Shopping at Winn Dixie before returning to the condo: 5

Note: Rating a guesstimate, since I don't remember actually going to Winn Dixie that night)

12/27/05

Waking up late after super-refreshing sleep: 9.5

Weather: 9 (sunny, not super-hot yet, but no winds at all)

Hanging on the beach with Z: 8

Water being fairly warm: 8

Golf at Crandon Park: 9.5

Beauty of course: 9.5

Me finding my game on back 9: 9.5

Me charging from way back to almost tie it up: 9.5

Us playing #17 in complete darkness, hitting good shots, and finding the balls as a result: 9.75

Z holding on to win: 8 (How could I be mad given everything else)

Hal not being there: 2

Dinner at Shorty's Ribs: 9.8

Spare Ribs: 9.95 - Even better than Z's Baby Backs! I am not kidding!

Z ordering double-fries, thus getting me to order double-fries: 9.5

Z actually getting (arguably) quadruple-fries: 9.9

Fries: 8.5

Onion Rings: 8

Hearing Miami/Stetson basketball game on radio tipping off just after leaving Shorty's: 4

Z saying, "Are we going?" and me agreeing to go: 5

Us needing to find new arena, not even knowing exactly where University of Miami was relative to where we were: 2.5

Us seeing and recognizing arena literally 10 seconds later: 9

Game itself: 5

"Chief" for Stetson: 7 (7 footer who was an actual Indian Chief, probably weighed about 320, was a good shooter, but couldn't rebound or defend very well)

Seat location: 9

Stopping in at Hudson on 33rd on the way home: 5

The Bar itself: 5

Claire: 5 (A lady sitting at the bar drinking a beer)

Her seeming to hit on Z: 9

Her being a Patriots fan: 9.5 (It was looking good for Z at that point)

Her then telling Z about her son and boyfriend: 2

Her then explaining to Z that she was about to "pull out the big guns" and pointing to her chest: 9.99975

Us finding out that meant that she was going to wear a Tom Brady jersey to watch the Patriots/Dolphins game: 3

Her starting to dance around the bar singing to '80s rock on the jukebox: 5.5

Singing itself: 2

Her dancing allowing us to "escape" and leave: 9

Neither Hal nor Hammer being there: 2

12/28/05

Weather: 9.5 (Starting to be really amazing for December)

Now knowing where we were going to watch the BC/Boise State game: 3

While discussing this problem on the way to golf, hearing an ad for Bootlegger's Sports Bar in Fort Lauderdale: 8

Golf at Inverrary East: 9

Me playing horribly early with no concentration: 3

My amazing 5-hole par run: 9.5

Me not being able to sink the putt to make it a 6-hole run: 4

Not having any idea how to get the rhythm back once the run was over: 2

Bootlegger's during the BC/Boise State game: 9

Bootlegger's set-up: 9.5

The zillions of TVs: 9

The sound-controllers at each seat: 9.5

The pool set-up outside: 9.975

Us missing Matt Damon's private party by the pool by 10 minutes: 2

Us being the only customers there: 3

Us deciding that Bootlegger's would probably be out of business in a week: 7

The barmaid trying to repeatedly spin empty bottles like in Coyote Ugly, and breaking about 5 bottles: 1.5

Z commenting to her, "You are the worst bottle flipper ever", and her being really upset: 8 - Hey, the truth hurts sometimes!

Hal not being there: 2

Food at Bootlegger's: 5

The selection: 6

If you like oysters: 9

If you don't: 3

Prices: 4 at best by Florida standards

Us taking a picture of Z slurping oysters, and sending it to Su to motivate her to come for a longer portion of the Florida trip in the future: 9.75

Us finding out later that she got the message but not the picture: 2

BC going way ahead in the game: 9.5

Boise State coming charging back in the 4th quarter: 3

It looking like Boise State would score and pull off the miracle win at the very end of the game: 1.5

BC intercepting in the end zone to save the game: 9.9975

Umberto's Restaurant: 6.5

Note: Definitely better than Z thinks, but also not nearly as good as Zuccherillo's used to be

12/29/05

Weather: 8

Warmth and sun: 9.999999999999

Fierce Heron Bay winds: 5

Golf at TPC-Heron Bay: 9.75

Z finding a ton of water, most of which wasn't really in play: 2

Z parring 10, then saying "If I can just keep it out of the water, it's easy": 8

Z then somehow inspiring a playing partner to say of him "He has sand play down pat": 8.5

Weird weather, with massive black cloud showing up out of nowhere: 3

Hal not being there: 2

Wind picking up and rain beginning to fall on us: 1.5

Note: It ALWAYS rains on us at Heron Bay! Remind me not to consider getting a place there!

Rain suddenly stopping and wind stopping, and it being sunny and super-warm: 9.999

Fat Tuesday's for a frozen drink: 8*

Lulu's for a couple of beers: 8*

Upon leaving, Z arguing (correctly) with the parking attendant that she had made a mistake, to save us one dollar: 8*

Hal not being there: 2

Primanti Brothers: 7*

The slowness of our waitress: 3*

My sandwich and fries: 7*

Upon leaving, Z arguing (correctly) with the waitress that she had made a mistake, to save us three dollars: 8*

* - I hadn't eaten all day and thus have virtually no memory of anything between the first half of the drink at Fat Tuesday's and getting my sandwich at Primanti Brothers.

Seeing Su and Hannah at airport: 9.85

12/30/05

Weather: 9.975

Taking H for a walk early in morning: 9 (she was SO excited)

Watching her unexpectedly eat all of Su's donut because it had jimmies on it: 9

Beach: 9

Playing with H in the water: 9

H not going deep in the ocean: 9.5 (More like me every day!!)

Lion Country Safari: 4

The long ride in traffic: 2

The safari itself: 6 (Not bad, but having to keep the windows up really made it worse-than-expected for me)

Z not hitting any animals while driving through the safari: 9.5 (I still can't believe it -- nice job Z!!)

The post-safari park area: 5

H getting the Itzakadoozi popsicle and not making a mess: 9.5

Brewzzi in Palm Beach: 8

The homemade chips: 5

My pasta: 8

The home-brewed golden lager: 8

Z not stopping for DQ on the way home: 3

12/31/05

Weather: 9.975

Taking H for a walk early in the morning: 8

Her being SO excited for Dunkin Donuts: 9.5

Beach: 7

H not wanting to go in the water: 4

H then pitching a fit and ending our beach outing very early: 2

Orange Bowl Basketball Classic: 7

Parking experience: 9.975

It costing $15: 1.5

Attendant telling Z: "Lexuses are free": 9.975 (since Lexus sponsers the parking lot at the arena)

Us at first thinking he was joking then realizing it was really free: 9.975

Z and I breaking into a huge cheer: 9.975

Su indignantly telling us that we should pay anyway: 2 -- What was she THINKING?

Hal not being there: 2

Second half of Florida State/Nebraska game: 4.5

Miami/Louisville game: 7

Both teams playing horribly: 3

Miami actually taking the lead late in the game, 39-38: 6

Louisville coming to life down the stretch to put it away: 7

Chief not being in the game: 2

H eating popcorn, chips, a cookie, and anything else she could find: 8

H loving pool, and Z being able to drain the green ball on her request: 8.5 -- Yes, they have pool tables in the arena for bored fans to use, probably because hockey is mostly what's played there

New Year's Eve Festivities: 9

Dinner at Ole' Ole': 6.5

Z cutting the line to get us on the list: 8

Us getting seated eventually: 8

Food: 6

Service: 5

Us not being allowed in free to hear the "top 10 in the world DJ": 2

Post-Dinner walk around Riverwalk and downtown Fort Lauderdale: 9

It being super-warm, even late at night: 9.5

H going crazy for big ball up in sky: 9.5

H going crazy for balloon that Z stole for her: 9.5

H going crazy for band playing: 9.5

H being awake at midnight: 9

Ball dropping and small fireworks at midnight: 9

1/1/06

Weather: 9.975

Taking H for a walk early in the morning: 7

(Note: I was tired, and we didn't go to Dunkin Donuts)

Breakfast at Pumpernicks: 2

Tradition of going out to breakfast on New Year's Day: 1.15

Us not going to Denny's: 9.9999975

Us not going to "The Egg and You" diner: 9.9999

Pumpernicks: 2.5

Food quality: 3

Waiter: 1.25

Time it took food to come: 1.25

Entire experience compared to going to Denny's: 9.5

Hal not being there: 2

Walking around beach strip: 8

Me almost touching live snake around a guy's neck, thinking it was a toy: 1.005

Me realizing it was real, and being scared to death: 1.0005

H seeing this, and cracking up: 1.00000005

Su actually letting me get her a slice of pizza for once: 8

H dancing to two different bands: 9.5

Dreadlocked steel-drum player in second band being totally fired up when H was getting down to his music: 9.75

Dinner at Shuck 'n Dive's: 9

Su actually getting Fried Green Tomatoes: 8

Spicy sausage: 9.5

1/2/06

Weather: 9.5

Taking H for a walk early in the morning: 9 (She was SO fired up for Dunkin Donuts again)

Beach: 8

H still not going in the water: 5

H having a blast in the sand: 8

Maggie Moo's on the way to the airport: 1.75

Su not really wanting to stop on the way to the airport, even though it was in honor of her birthday: 2

H choosing a bright blue ice cream: 2

H spilling bright blue ice cream on Su: 2

H pitching a fit: 2

Wind coming while trying to throw H's ice cream away: 1.5

Me spilling blue ice cream everywhere, including on my shirt: 1.5

Napkins flying everywhere in a gust of wind, and me having to chase them down in the parking lot: 1.5

H remembering this whole thing to this day and consistently reminding me about it and cracking up: 1.25

Note: This page is being updated on 6/23/07 -- and despite the fact that 1.5 years have passed and that Hannah was not even 2 years old at the time of this incident, she STIL remembers it, reminds me about it, and laughs at me.

Hal not being there: 2

Su and H leaving: 1.00000000000000005

Me realizing that I was still in Florida for a few more days: 9.999995

Bootlegger's for the OSU/ND game: 9

Us not sitting by the pool: 2 (though it was empty outside)

The inside being packed with football fans: 9

It being a good game: 9

A few ND fans trying to stir up a "Let's go Irish" chant: 4

The entire place unexpected responding with an ear-splitting "We Are......Penn State!!" chant that went on for five whole minutes: 9.975

Hal not being there: 2

Dinner at When In Rome: 7

Weirdness of When In Rome: 5

Curtains making tables private: 4

Loud Italian music on the speakers: 5

Full-screen projected tv image of concert on wall: 4

Me realizing it was all actually a Sarah Brightman concert: 8

Food quality: 8.75

Food portion sizes: 4

Prices: 4

Getting Sugar Cookies at Publix on the way home: 9

Immediately eating 7 of the 12 cookies: 5 (good 'cause they were awesome, bad 'cause I had just gained 2.5 pounds on the spot)

Half-sleeping, half-watching the Sugar Bowl game in a sugar/beer combination stupor: 9

1/3/06

Weather: 9.75

Getting up really early for golf: 9.95 (for some reason, I was just able to wake up with a ton of energy)

Golf at Palm Aire Cypress: 9.75

Being the first, and only ones on the course at Palm Aire Cypress: 9.95

Playing the entire 18 holes in 2 hours 40 minutes: 9.99975

Not playing at least 18 more holes: 1.5

Z not breaking a condo window with a drive, as he did last year at Palm Aire Cypress: 8 -- BTW this should be a 10, but it was just so funny to hear the glass shatter and then hear the apartment resident say, "Wow, you hit one THIS far ?"

Watching Z's superb 7-hole run of 4's-or-better: 9

3-putting the 17th hole when I could have pulled out the win anyway: 2

Convincing Z that we should consider golfing the next morning: 9.5

Prepping for Orange Bowl tailgate: 8 (I was getting SO excited!)

Actually having a few hours to relax between golf and the game: 8

Mr. Leo coming to our apartment to save us an hour round-trip to pick him up: 9

Z's building actually letting us watch for him to arrive on tv: 9.95

Us hitting traffic on the way to the game: 2

Us getting to the game to find the parking lots almost 100% full: 2.5

Z going right past 3 cop cars waving him the other way to try to find a better parking spot: 8.5

Us not really getting a better parking spot: 3

Tailgate: 9

Rowd's friend Jules, his son, and daughter coming to the tailgate: 9

Me actually finding them in the massive crowd: 9

Jules being a principal, which got Mr. Leo SO fired up (since Mr. Leo was a principal for many years): 9

Jules' daughter living in Akron with Rowd, and hating it compared to Orlando or Malibu: 9

Hal not being there: 2

Food: 9.25

Tortilla Chips: 5 (I didn't realize they were going to be lime, but I was starving and nothing else was ready yet!)

Chicken fingers: 7.5 (good for an experiment, will be better next time, especially if they are buffalo-style)

Chicken: 9.75

Steak: 9.5 (first type an 8.5, second one a 9.75)

M&M and Sugar Cookies: 9

It being cut a bit short because we started so late: 2

Us forgetting to toss the mini-football around: 1.5

Having to wait outside the stadium 'til almost game-time while Z negotiated tickets: 1.5

Missing Orange Bowl Hall of Honor inductions, including induction of former Florida State and later WCW/WWE great Ron Simmons: 1.25

Missing ceremonial coin flip from Don Shula: 1.5

Orange Bowl Game: 9.975

Weather still being very warm: 9.95

The ten minutes leading up to the game: 9.9999975

The first five minutes of the game with the fans losing their minds: 9.9975

PSU band: 9

FSU band: 7.5 (Not bad, just further from us and harder to hear)

Our seats (from late-first-quarter-on): 8.5 (20 yard line, low in second deck)

Florida State explosion in late second quarter, followed by PSU score right before halftime: 9

Halftime show: 6.5

Live DJ spurring on crowd through "battle of the bands": 8

Ciara performance: 5 (I just couldn't see that much, it was lip-synched, and there wasn't as much as usual going on over the rest of the field).

Field position game in third quarter: 9.5 (emotion gradually building)

Final quarter: 9.95

FSU somehow kicking a long game-tying field goal into the wind: 9.95

FSU getting confused on a substitution, allowing PSU to hit a long pass as time was running out: 2

PSU somehow not making the game-winning field goal, to send the game into OT: 9.95

OTs: 9.5

FSU getting a horrible holding penalty to kill them in the first OT: 2

Penn State kicker somehow missing another Field Goal to send it into the second overtime: 9.95

Both teams scoring TDs in the second OT: 8

FSU kicker hitting the upright in the third overtime: 2

Penn State finally winning it with a field goal: 7 (as much as I was pulling for FSU, I felt bad for the kid who had already missed two potential game-winners)

Hal not being there: 2

Us finally getting home exhausted, after getting Mr. Leo home, at roughly 3AM: 9.975

1/4/06

Sleeping too late to golf: 1.25

Packing: 1.01

Knowing that another Florida trip was actually ending: 1.000001

Cleaning condo as Florida time was running out: 1.2

Z discovering problems with his bathroom's plumbing right as we had to leave: 1.000000001

Going to airport: 1.000001

Having to leave for home: 1.5 (0.5 added because I knew that at least I would get to see Su and LH again soon)

Getting home, being cold in shorts, and realizing that I would soon have to put on long pants and a sweatshirt again, for the first time since 12/25: 1.0001

Overall ratings:

Trip Overall: 9.995

Z: 9.9995

Su: 10+ as always... (but almost reduced since you were only there for four days...can you please come for longer next year ?)

LH: 9.5 (Super effort save for not going in the water two of three days at the beach, plus pitching two fits and reminding me consistently since about Molly Moos)