Vacation Details
12/2006: Fort Lauderdale, FL
ChampionshipCup.com: "Home of Champions"
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.
12/25/06
Leaving Christmas Celebration early: 1.5
Su and Hannah not coming: 1.5 (though Adam was too small to go)
Realizing I was leaving to go to Florida: 9.5
Three hour layover at LAX with virtually nowhere open to get anything to eat or watch the game: 2
Sleeping virtually entire way to Fort Lauderdale: 9.75
12/26/06
Arriving in Fort Lauderdale: 9.5
Z showing up at baggage claim despite it being roughly 6AM: 9.5
Baggage claim music: 8
Me being so fired up about being in Florida that I couldn't ever sleep: 8
Being fired up enough to go work out: 8
Weather: 8.5
Golf Lesson with Michelle Conti: 7
Her attempting to totally revamp Z's swing: 9
Her inability to fix Z: 2
Z being skeptical of being taught anything by a woman, particularly about golf: 8
Her unexpectedly giving me a new grip: 5
It hurting my hand at first: 2
It kind of working the whole week: 8
Us not making it to any sand practice: 3
Golf at Palm Aire on the Oaks: 8
Z playing horribly: 2
Z blaming Michelle Conti for "screwing him up": 8.5
Drinks at the Roadhouse: 6
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
Popcorn Chicken appitizer: 6 (I was starving though)
Our bartender being absolutely terribly slow: 2
Me eating about 1 billion peanuts since I was starving and our bartender wouldn't ever come over to take our order: 3
Us actually having to leave the Roadhouse before dinner: 5
Missing dinner at the Roadhouse: 2
For once not forgetting what I ate at the Roadhouse due to drunkenness, even if it was because we weren't sticking around to eat: 8
Quick dinner at The Whole Enchilada: 8
Me needing about 2 more dinners but not ordering them: 3
Crashing at Z's place, exhausted: 9
12/27/06
Waking up after most-refreshing sleep I've had in a year: 9.75
Weather: 7 (cool and breezy in the early AM, though got much nicer later in the day)
Golf at Inverrary West Course: 8
Me playing fairly well: 8
Z playing horribly again: 2
Stopping at a new place for lunch: 8
Jack's Bar-B-Q Smokehouse: 6
Relaxing after golf at Z's place: 5 (I was raring to go!)
Hard Rock Seminole Casino: 4
Z having 95 "free" dollars to use: 9
Z blowing 95 "free" dollars in about 40 minutes: 2
Me losing about 40 real dollars in the same timeframe: 1.5
Drinks at the Hard Rock: 6
Them not accepting Z's comp points for the drinks (due to a "broken machine" at the bar) and us paying a lot for them: 1.25
Eastside Sports Pub: 5
Us finally finding the place after 2 previous tries: 8
Bartender Doug being a really nice guy: 8
The pub not having any food: 1.25 (I was starving by now)
'Zo's "Off the Hook" Sports Grille: 7
It being way better than expectations: 8
Bartender Stacy being very nice: 8
Food Quality: 7
Z trying to "joke" with Stacy about him not getting bacon on his sandwich: 2
Stacy getting all bummed out about it, and offering to buy Z beer out of her own pocket to make amends, completely embarrassing Z: 8.5
Z being relatively quiet from then on that night: 8.5
Crashing at Z's place, exhausted: 9
12/28/06
Waking up after second-most-refreshing sleep I've had in a year: 9.75
Weather: 8.5
Having energy to go work out: 8
Hanging on the beach with Z: 8
Walk on beach: 7
Hannah not being there: 2
Jumping in pool for a few minutes: 9
Golf at Crandon Park: 9.5
Beauty of course: 9.5
Me playing great by CP standards: 9.5
Z playing horribly: 2
Our super-weird playing partner Luis from San Pablo, Brazil: 2
His hard-to-understand accent: 2
His constant blabbering about weird stuff: 2
Luis having kind-of see-through shorts, allowing us to constantly see his boxers with hearts on them: 1.25
Us playing #17 in complete darkness, and Z somehow parring it for the second tme in a row in the dark: 9.75
Hal not being there: 2
Dinner at Shorty's Ribs: 9.8
Spare Ribs: 9.95 (I only get ribs once a year, but at least they're tremendous when I get them)
Not getting a second dinner: 2
Su not being there to get corn on the cob: 1.25
Asking waittress what machine had in it, her telling me little chocolate chip cookies, then basically ordering them for me: 8
Quality of cookies: 7 (small and crispy, yet still burning hot with melted chocolate-chips inside)
Finally going to Jai Alai again after not having gone for a few trips: 9
First two games at Jai Alai: 8 (really fun, even when you lose)
Incredible next game: 9.95
Me inexplicably betting a trifecta, which I never do: 5
Z having bet the same trifecta without us knowing: 8
As the game played out a bit, me saying "OK, if these next six points happen in a row, we win the trifecta and us laughing about it: 9
The first one happening as needed and me saying "OK, only five more things...": 9
The next point going as we needed, and me saying "It's down to a 1 out of 16 chance and laughing...": 9
The next point happening the way we needed, and me saying "Oh my gosh, it's down to a 1 out of 8 chance...": 9.25
The fourth point going our way, and me and Z realizing we both actually had a shot at the trifecta and laughing about "How are these last two things ever going to happen...": 9.5
The next point happening appropriately, in a long-and-drawn-out point: 9.5
Me slouching over in pain in my chair, knowing there was no way the final point would go our way and land the trifecta: 8.5
Z reminding me of the famous "I know the feeling" time at Jai Alai many year ago: 9
The final point being decided on the serve: 9.75
Me having no idea if we won or lost since I didn't know if it was a legal serve: 1.25
Looking over and seeing/hearing Z jumping up and down wildly and screaming, and realizing we had won: 9.75
Seeing the payoff of $147 per person on a $1 bet: 9.95
Collecting my first ever Jai Alai win of more than $5: 9.95
Me and Z BOTH winning big on the same game: 9.95
Hal not being there: 1.05
Finding out that Z had gotten our Orange Bowl tickets for $60 (4 good tickets) winning his E-Bay auction by 1 dollar: 8.75
12/29/06
Weather: 9.85
Having energy to go work out: 8
Golf at Plantation Preserve: 9
Z finally playing well: 9 (though I am giving a mock cheer as I type this)
Course being great in all physical aspects: 9
Course pace-of-play being pretty slow: 3
Me playing great for most of the round: 9
Playing partners dubbing me "Mr. Automatic" due to my run of good drives: 7
Me immediately falling to pieces and making three consecutive 7's: 1.7
Me considering myself "Mr. Automatic 7": 1.7
Me not being able to finish the 18th in the dark to tie/win the match: 7 (Should be a 2, but it had just been such a great day and it was so warm, I just couldn't give it a low rating)
Dinner and Drinks at Shuck 'n Dive: 9
Z ordering 3 courses due to being starving: 9
Me actually getting 2 dinners due to being starving: 9
Su not being there to get oysters or fried green tomatoes: 1.5
Quality of food and spices: 9
Beer coldness: 9
Waiter accidentally dropping Z's credit card in the water when he thought nobody was looking: 2
Card still working properly for remainder of trip: 9.5
12/30/06
Weather: 9.75
Having energy to go work out: 8
Hanging on the beach with Z: 8
Jumping in pool for a few minutes: 9
Hannah not being there: 1.5
Not being able to go to Bootlegger's for the BC game since they were out of business: 2 (but check it out -- our prediction about this during last year's trip ratings was pretty much dead on!)
Going to 'Zo's "Off the Hook" Sports Grill instead: 8
The parking meter being on during the game, and only letting me put in 3 hours worth of time: 2
Onion rings: 4
Great guys next to us at the bar: 8
One of them being the dad of FSU sophmore running back Tim Smith (#20): 8.5
First half of the BC game: 5
BC defense playing terribly: 2
Z going out at
halftime to fill the meter
to find a parking ticket: 1
Me having put
the money in the wrong
meter: 1 (Though I WILL
argue that the wrong
meter was more
applicable to our car than
the correct meter -- Z
points out that I somehow
missed a small "This
Car ->" sign on the front
of the meter, but that was
because I was busy
checking if the meter
was in service on
Saturday, which was on
the BACK of the meter
while the sign was on
the front!)
BC playing
better in the second
half: 8
(though I was so bummed
about the ticket that I was
distracted)
defense playing great: 9
miraculously getting the ball back and winning on a last-second field goal: 9.5
Relaxing while being completely tired, a little tipsy, and full the rest of the day: 5
Z making me going to Primanti Brothers for dinner when I wasn't that hungry: 5 ( 8 for going to Primanti Brothers, but 2 for not being that hungry)
Primanti Brothers: 8
My spaghetti: 8
Them getting my order right: 8
Them getting Z's order wrong (no cheese) due to my order: 8 (too funny, and I can't believe that's never happened before!!)
Z's order being piping hot once they fixed it: 9
Hal not being there to see it: 2
Su not being there to see it: 1.5
Bru's Room: 5
Great outdoor setup and large menu: 8
Ultimate Fighting on PPV on TV: 3.5
Somewhat rough "North Florida" crowd: 3
12/31/06
Weather: 9.75
Getting up super-early to get rental car: 2
Z having one free day to use on the rental car: 9.5
Z making 3 hour drive to Orlando in roughly 25 minutes: 9.5
SunPass: 9
Z having one free day at Courtyard by Marriot: 9.5
Me having 2 old Disney passes we could use (and having actually remembered them): 9.5
MGM-Studios (part 1): 8
Being in Disney World (seemingly out of nowhere): 9
Hannah not being there: 1
Large Hot Pretzel: 7.5 (It was huge, but had salt and was a bit overcooked)
Lights, Stars, Motor Cars Stunt Show: 7.5 (I had never seen it before)
Not being able to get a picture with Little Einsteins due to "Technical Difficulties": 3
Animation Theater: 7.5 (I had never gone in there since they fixed it up)
Z singing "Bare Necessities" after show: 9
Everything being super-crowded: 3 (expected)
Me getting picture with June Einstein after all: 8.5
Me being only person over age of 4 to get a picture: 8.5
Hannah not being there: 1
Aunt Trudy's house: 8.5
Ride being WAY shorter than remembered: 9
Trudy's husband John LOVING the pastries we brought: 9
Trudy's awesome new extended porch: 9
Cathy (Trudy's friend): 8.5
Them keeping us for dinner: 2 (considering what they served last time, see Trip Ratings from 12/2004 for details)
Dinner being delicious sausages with onions: 9.5
MGM Studios (part 2): 9
Getting a seat at Fantasmic: 9.5
Crowd wave before Fantasmic, including hillarious slow-motion and fast-forward versions: 9.25
Fantasmic: 9.5 (most magical thing at Disney World so far this trip)
Cool little bars set up around the park: 8
Sounds Dangerous: 8 (I had never seen this since they upgraded it)
Killer Bees part at begining of Sounds Dangerous: 1.5
Getting New Year's Hat and Horn: 8.5
Hannah not being there: 1
Osbourne Festival of Dancing Lights: 7
Having snow in Florida, even if made by machine: 1.25
Coming up with souvenirs for Su and Hannah such that we wouldn't have to go shopping the next morning: 8
Getting a cookie and drink (and ice cream for Z) when starving and most food stands closed: 9.25
Cool fireworks at midnight: 9.5
Su and Hannah not being there: 1
Actually making it through another year: 9.95
1/1/07
Weather: 7.5 (Very warm, but felt like rain. Improved during day though)
Me being so ready to go I woke up early and worked out: 8
Z finding stadium quickly despite taking random turnoff: 9.5
Z getting non-blocking parking spot: 8
Z finding us good tickets very quickly way before gametime (for $20 each): 9
Me not being hungry enough to get the great-looking bbq outside the stadium: 3
Capital One Bowl: 8
Game Itself: 7 (Not bad, but not as good as anticipated)
Seats: 8.5
Halftime: 6
Theme of halftime being "postcards from Orlando": 9
Songs by calypso band being all about vacationing in Florida: 9
Calypso band itself and on-field performers: 5
Shaky staircase that was crumbling on way up to or down from seats: 1.25
It not crumbling when I was on it: 9.95
Z making 2.5 hour drive back to Palm Beach in roughly 18 minutes: 9
Original Steakhouse and Sports Theater: 8
Setup: 8
Rolls: 9 (best of trip since we didn't get Roadhouse rolls...very similar actually)
Salad: 3 (They remembered the no cheese, then put a ton of bacon bits all over it which I hate)
Steak dinners: 8
Me not ordering a second dinner despite being still hungry: 2 (it was too expensive to justify it)
1/2/07
Weather: 7.75 (super-warm, but felt like rain)
Golf at Inverrary: 8
Us actually getting up early to play: 9
Us having playing partner who was President of Payless Rental Cars: 4 (I couldn't have cared much less, but Z loved it)
Rain pouring down out of nowhee when we were on the 16th green: 2
Us somehow not being struck by lightning: 9.95
Having to skip the last two holes due to rain: 2
Our game tickets actually having arrived in time: 9.5
Pre-Orange Bowl Tailgate: 8.5
Rain mostly holding off: 9
Z having mega-umbrella when it did rain: 9
Steaks: 5 (terrible meat quality, I need to learn for next year)
Chicken: 9
Hamburgers: 7 (No idea, didn't eat one myself, just looked like a 7)
Forgetting to cook the onions: 5 (Was so full I didn't really care)
Sugar Cookies: 8
Mr. Leo: 8
Not having to cut tailgate short to look for tickets: 9.5
Orange Bowl: 8.5
Being in the stadium early enough, for once: 9
Pre-Game on-field festivities: 8
Quality of Seats: 8.5
First half of game: 8
Halftime show: 6 (Better than most, not as good as the old ones)
One member of the Louisville band suffering a serious injury in the Battle of the bands and having to be carted off the field: 8.5 (it was a battle after all)
Weird part at end with tons of high-school bands playing along with a record: 2 (One of the weirdest and worst halftime things we've seen)
Third quarter of game: 9
Fourth quarter of game: 7.5
Z getting us out of the parking lot, to Mr. Leo's house, then back to the condo in record time: 9.5
1/3/07
Weather: 9.95 (Best of trip)
Me actually having energy to get up and work out: 8
Hanging on the beach with Z: 8.5
Incredible sun: 9.5
Us actually going into the ocean: 8
Temperature of water: 8
Z trying to bring me out too deep: 3
Su not being there: 1.25
Swimming in pool: 9.25
Hannah not being there: 1.5
Having to prep to leave Florida: 1.25
Cab being late but then getting us to the airport on time: 4
Not being able to use "I missed the flight" as an excuse to stay longer in Florida: 1.25
Sleeping almost all the way on the flights back to California: 9
Getting home on time: 9
Super-weird cab driver actually getting me home safely: 8.5
Overall ratings:
Trip Overall: 9.995
Z: 9.9995
Not having Su, Hannah, Hal, or anyone else to rate: 1
(Note: Mr. Leo, Aunt Trudy, etc. all rated within ratings above)
