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.

12/22/99

Leaving work after finding and fixing critical software bug one hour later than expected: 9.5

Seeing short line for check in: 8

Having almost no wait in airport: 8

Leaving Su: 1

Realizing on plane that I was on my way to Florida: 9.9999999999975

12/23/99

Waking up in Washington DC after sleeping the whole way there: 9.75

Feeling coldest blast ever in jet port: 1.25

Having delay on connecting flight: 2

Having delay only be thirty minutes: 8

Landing in Miami: 9

Feeling warmth through jetport: 9

Weather in Miami: 9

Getting bags quickly: 9

Getting car quickly: 9

Getting stuck in traffic on way to Lincoln at Doral: 2

Taking TWO YEARS for Eman to check me in at Lincoln: 1.75

Finally getting checked in: 7

Getting stuck in traffic on the way back to the airport: 2

Having Hal be there when I got there: 9.5

Having Hal be mad that I was late: 2 -- I wasn't THAT late, and it wasn't my fault!

Going straight to the golf course: 9.75

Going right to the tee: 9.75

Golf at International: 6

Excitement of playing in warm weather: 9.975

Getting half-price afternoon rate: 9

Course Layout: 5

Course Conditions: 5

Course Difficulty: 7.5

Course Value for Price we Paid: 5 -- decent quality, decent price

Course Value for Full Price: 2

Quality of Play by Hal: 1

Quality of Play by Bod: 1.5

Seeing two potentially-rabid raccoons on the twelth fairway: 1

Somehow not getting attacked by raccoons: 9.75

Substantial Subs after golf: 9

Getting a FREE sub after carrying card for TWO YEARS: 9.75

Note: Actual amount of savings: $4.25

Going to THREE stores to find a grill: 3

Having to settle for a small grill: 3

Getting GREAT other groceries: 9

Not finding Brach's jelly beans and having to settle for Farley's: 2

Side Notes:

Quality of Brach's Jelly Beans: 9.75

Quality of Farley's Jelly Beans: 6

Qualiry of Sather's Jelly Beans: 2

At the time of settling for Farley's, I temporarily got Sather's and Farley's mixed up!

Miraculously finding Wednesday newspaper with golf coupons in it at Walgreen's: 9.5

Noticing that none of the coupons looked relevant to us: 1.5

Hal putting together the grill in record time: 8.5 -- Nice effort Hal!!

Finally getting some real sleep: 9

12/24/99

Getting up WICKED early: 8 -- I was SO pumped!!

Weather: 6 -- Sunny, but windy and fairly cold

Anticipation on ride to Jacaranda: 9

Golf at Jacaranda: 9

Excitement of playing new course: 9

Course Layout: 6

Course Conditions: 8

Course Difficulty: 6

Playing 36 Holes: 9.5

Playing 36 Holes FOR FREE: 9.999999999

Course Value for Price we Paid: 9.9999999 -- Good quality, FREE to play!

Course Value for Regular Price: 3 -- Full Price is WAY too high for what course is

Meeting Hal's friend of a friend who got us on for nothing and getting free lunch: 9.95

Quality of Play by Hal: 3

Quality of Play by Bod: 6.5

Finally learning how to aim my new driver: 8

Being able to cook out on screened-in porch: 9

Cookout: 5

Fire Being Horrible: 2

Food taking FOREVER to cook while I was starving: 1.5

Quality of chicken once cooked: 8

Hal eating a great-looking turkey burger: 8

Chinese rice and steamed dumplings: 6

Going to bed fairly early: 8

12/25/99

Getting up WICKED early: 9 -- I was SO pumped!!

Weather: 4 -- Sunny, but windy and VERY cold

Golf at CC of Miami: 9.9

Excitement of being first ones out during sun-rise: 9.975

Course Layout: 7

Course Conditions: 8

Course Difficulty: 5.25 -- East: 4, West: 6.5

Course Value for Price we Paid (First Round): 6 -- Very good course, OK price

Course Value for Full Price: 5 -- Price is getting up there

Having guy honor our old coupon anyway: 8

Me rembering to use 6-iron on 8th hole of East Course off tee: 9

Me looking at hole and using 5-wood anyway: 3

My 5-wood shot: 1.5

Seeing Lawrence Taylor in between the 9th and 10th hole of first round: 8

Having Hal not be quite sure it was LT: 2

Remainder of 1st round, being basically only ones on course: 9.75

Going to call Su while Hal waiting for lunch: 3 -- She wasn't home

Coming back one minute later to see LT, one of Hal's favorite all-time players, sitting next to Hal: 9.99975

Seeing LT had already drained at least one beer in that time: 9.99975

Seeing LT's HUGE gold 'LT' earring: 9.99975

Hearing EVERYONE call him LT: 9.99975

Having LT's friend split, leaving LT, Hal, me, and the bartender as the only people there: 9.99975

Having LT talk with Hal about Jesse Owens: 9.99975

Hearing LT talk with the barmaid about cheerleading/cheerleades: 9.99975

Hal having huge smile on his face the rest of the day: 9.99975

Having second (replay) round being "pay for cart only": 9

Course Value for price we paid (Second Round): 9.5

Second round on the West Course being more crowded: 8 -- strill not too bad

Weather warming up a LITTLE: 8

Hal not letting twosome join us on tenth hole: 7.5 -- not right, but effective

Hal telling me that he had a blister and wanted to go home after this round: 3

Me deciding we were going home and in the jacuzzi after the round: 6

Deciding to try to convince Hal to play 18 more on the 18th hole: 7

Having guy say Wast Course was open so Hal would play another round: 9

Getting right back out to an open East Course: 9

Having third (Replay) round be "pay for cart only": 9

Course Value for price we paid (Third Round): 9.5

Suddenly coming to life and playing great on front nine: 9.5

Actually using a 6-iron on the 8th and hitting a decent shot: 9.75

Playing FIFTY FOUR holes: 9.999999975

Quality of play by Hal: 6

Quality of play by Bod: 8

Having Z be early at airport: 5

Seeing Z: 8.5

Having Z start grill while I went for rice: 9

Having rice take FOREVER: 2

Having my food by ALREADY READY when I got back: 9

Having Z and Hal be done eating by the time I got back: 4

Cookout: 7

Quality of Chicken: 8

Chinese rice and steamed dumplings: 6

Chinese wings: Looked like a 2, but I didn't have any

Watching Z eat HUGE Baskin-Robbins Sundae: 8

Watching "Good Times" with Z before bed: 8

12/26/99

Getting up FAIRLY early: 9 -- I was SO pumped!!

Weather: 6 -- Sunny, but windy and fairly cold

Golf at Bonaventure: 9.5

Excitement of playing new course: 9

Course being called "Green Monster": 9.9975

Course Layout: 9

Course Conditions: 9.5

Course Difficulty: 9.5

Course Value for the Price: 6 -- Great quality, but very high price

The BEAUTIFUL waterfall par 3 3rd hole: 9.75

None of us hitting the green on the hole: 2

Only one of us putting the ball in the waterfall: 6 -- Small consolation

Tremendous clutch putting on holes 12-16 by me and Z: 9

The fine battle for the first Champinship Cup match between me and Z: 9

Me finally taking control on #17 with a par: 9.5

Having this later turn out to be the only great match of Championship Cup: 1.25

Quality of play by Bod: 8

Quality of play by Zin: 7.5 -- especially strong for his first day of the trip!!

Quality of play by Hal: 5

Weather warning up in the afternoon: 9.5

Golf at Crandon Park: 9.25

Us being let out a little early: 9.5

Course Layout: 9.99975

Course Conditions: 9.25

Course Difficulty: 9.99975

Course Value for Price we Paid: 9.999999

Course Value for Full Price: 6 -- Full Price is getting VERY high

Z and Hal both playing in a funk for the first 12 holes or so: 1.25

Me chipping in with a sand wedge out of the rough on #6: 9

Z and Hal coming to life and waging an epic battle down the stretch: 9

The battle being for second place: 5 -- Glad I won, sad their battle wasn't to win

Hal pulling out second place: 8 -- Z is, after all, the most hated golfer!!

Us cramming in 16 holes before dark: 9.75

Taking a commanding lead in Championship Cup play: 8

Quality of play by Bod: 7

Quality of play by Zin: 4 -- 1st 10 holes 1, last 6 holes 8

Quality of play by Hal: 4.5 -- 1st 10 holes 1, last 6 holes 8.5

Dinner at Cafe Tu Tu Tango: 4

Concept of appitizers-only menu: 7 -- sounded interesting

Atmosphere: 7

Quality of Food: 4

Quanity of Food per order: 3

Value of each order for the price: 2

Weirdness of chips and piza: 2

Drinks at Fat Tuesdays: 9.25

Huge popcorn while drinking: 9

Zin getting us home from Coconut Grove in roughly 2 minutes: 9.75

12/27/99

Getting up moderately early: 9 -- I was SO pumped!!

Weather: 6.54 -- Sunny, but fairly cold and windy

Anticipation on drive to TPC-Heron Bay: 9.5

Golf at TPC-Heron Bay: 9.975 -- Best single round of trip

Course Layout: 7

Course Conditions: 9.9999999975

Course Difficulty: 5 -- No wind: 3, Very windy: 7

Course Beauty: 9.99975

Overall fun factor of course: 9.9975

Course Value for Price: 9 -- In my opinion, the ONLY $100+ course we've played that is a 9 or greater in this category

Finally finishing 18 holes at TPC: 9.95

Having hole #18 being the prettiest hole there: 9.5

Not having a HUGE gray storm cloud there like last year: 9.9999999999999985

Quality of play by Bod: 9

Quality of play by Hal: 7

Quality of play by Zin: 6

Taking full command of Championship Cup: 5 -- Happy for me, sad for excitement factor

Pregame tailgate at Pro Player Stadium: 9.99975

Quality of chicken: 9

Quality of steak: 9.999999975

Weather getting a LITTLE cooler: 4

Zin actually having bough tickets to the Dolphin game in advance, thus not having to scalp: 9.9999975

Zin jokingly offering his ticket like a scalper: 1

A guy considering actually buying his ticket for $200: 8

Z being TOTALLY embarassed and not offering his ticket any more: 9.975

Dolphins/Jets game: 8.75

12/28/99

Sleeping late: 9.975 -- We were ALL exhausted by this point!!

Weather at time of wake up: 8 -- Extremely warm!!

First run of trip: 9 -- I fealt SO heavy after that first tailgate!!

Weather immediately following run: 2 -- Pouring rain!!

Watching TV with Hal and Z: 3 -- not bad, but disappointed from the rain

The rain quickly slowing, then finally stopping: 9.975

Z contemplating us still golfing, and suggesting playing closer-to-home: 8

Us cancelling Colony West: 4 -- I played SO badly there last year and wanted to make amends, though I did understand the potentially weather problems and driving distance involved...

Golf at CC of Miami: 9

Us getting justabout right on: 9.5

Us seeing two groups ahead of us on the tee: 2

Both groups looking absolutely HORRIBLE on the first hole: 2

Z saying "It's going to be a LONG day!!": 1

Both groups then going really fast and us playing in 3.5 hours: 9.99975

The rain stopping for good after about 5 holes: 9.75

Course Value for Price we Paid: 7 -- slightly lower price on weekday and during afternoon

Note: For conditions, price, etc. see notes above on CC of Miami

Quality of play by Bod: 7

Quality of play by Hal: 5

Quality of play by Zin: 3

Zin and Hal battling again: 5 -- great battle, but too bad it was for second

Me running away and hiding in Championship Cup: 4 -- Happy for me, sad for excitement

Dinner at Roadhouse Grill: 9

Drinks: 9.975

Price: 9.9999999

Coldness: 9.9999999

Quantity: 9.9999999

Two-for-One: 9.9999999

Waiter promptness in bringing them: 2

Peanuts: 9

Rolls: 9.99999999999999 -- A number cannot express how good these are!

Note: Rolls were slightly different in shape from years past, but still tasted the same

Salad: 7

My marinated steak with onions: 9

My baked potato: 8

Zin's steak: 7.5

Hal's pork chops: 5

Hal's sweet potato: 8

Value for price: 9.975

Waiter: 2

Going to Jai Alai: 9.5

Going to Jai Alai when exhausted, full, and somewhat drunk after Roadhouse: 2

Me thinking I was going to fall asleep at Jai Alai for the second straight year: 1

Z uncharacteristically taking FOREVER to get to Jai Alai when I needed to use the facilities: 1

Jai Alai: 8

Me staying awake except for a little bit of the first match: 9

Me actualy cashing a ticket, my first ever at Jai Alai, on a $10 winner: 9

Me promptly losing the winnings: 7 -- easy come, easy go

Fan doing the "Oohoohooohilllillllillllilllllilllliiya" sound to try to make guys drop the ball: 9.5 -- hillarious, and impossible to reproduce

Guys NEVER dropping the ball because of the sound: 4 -- it SHOULD have worked!!

Jai Alai not being smoky AT ALL: 9.975 -- used to be the smokiest place on earth!!

Z promptly lighting up a stogie when I mentioned this fact: 2

Smoke from his cigar blowing right at me the rest of the night: 1

Z getting us home from Dania in approximately 2.5 minutes: 9.975

Watching INCREDIBLE "Gay Blade" episode of "Sanford and Son" with Z before bed: 9.875

12/29/99

Waking up Fairly Early: 8 -- I was still pumped, but Z and Hal were losing steam

Weather: 7 -- Sunny, and getting a LITTLE warmer

Golf at Bonaventure: 8

Excitement of playing new course: 9

Course Layout ("Resort Course"): 5 -- Not horrible, but NOTHING compared to the "Green Monster"

Course Conditions: 9.5

Course Difficulty: 6

Course Value for Price: 5 -- Pretty good quality, but still high price, even on weekday

Hal and Zin being TOTALLY not into it: 1.5

Me, in protecting Zin from falling clubs, hitting myself in the head with a sand wedge and cutting myself on the forehead: 1.00001

Me blowing them out AGAIN: 9 -- They deserved it for their horrible effort

Quality of play by Bod: 5

Quality of play by Hal: 2

Quality of play by Zin: 1

Telling Zin and Hal to NOT get Substantial Subs for lunch at such a late hour (past 2PM): 5

Zin going there anyway: 2

Substantial Subs: 8

Seeing Hammer at airport: 9.5

Having Hammer give us shots of "Stoly" upon returning to the room: 8

Anticipation for first jacuzzi of trip: 8

Temperature of first hot tub: 1.5 -- Approximately 150 degees, the hottest thing I've EVER felt!!

Temperature of second hot tub: 7.5 -- Not bad!!

First Tetris of trip: 9

Getting wrecked by Hal in Tetris: 2

Drinking beer with Hammer for the first time in a while: 9

Dinner at Shorty's: 9.5 -- I was already a little drunk, and full from lunch, and thus couldn't appreciate it fully

Ribs: 9.9

Potato: 9

Z making us leave before I could eat more food: 1.5

Drinks at Fat Tuesday's: 9.25

Huge popcorn while drinking: 9

Zin getting us home from Coconut Grove in roughly 2 minutes: 9.75

Missing "Sanford and Son" while all the rest watched WAMI: 1.5

12/30/99

Waking up REALLY early for golf: 9 -- I was REALLY pumped

Having to wake up so early because Zin was supposed to be back to pick up his mother at the airport: 5

Hammer not getting up for golf: 1.00000000001

Hammer blaming ME for the rest of the trip for making such an early tee time: 1.25

Weather: 7 -- Still a little cool, but sunny and fairly warm

Golf at CC of Miami: 9.5

Being the first ones out: 9.9975

Having a great sunrise view while being the only ones of the course during hole #1: 9.95

Z and Hal both playing better: 8

Me playing consistently well: 8.5

Me uncharacteristically slicing massvely on #9 and walloping a house: 1.15

Course Value for price we paid: 7 -- not low, but first ones out is cool!!

It actually being a three-way-close match for most of the round: 8

Note: For conditions, price, etc. see above notes on CC of Miami

Quality of play by Bod: 8

Quality of play by Hal: 7

Quality of play by Zin: 6.5

Me completing the first ever clean sweep in Championship Cup play: 9.5

Me being able to trash talk like crazy coming up to next year's Cup: 9.5

Hammer actually being awake when we returned at 11AM: 9.5

My surprise at him being awake by this time: 9

Me smartly avoiding Substantial Subs before tailgate: 9.95

Me getting in my second run of the trip as the weather continued to improve: 9

Second hot tub of trip: 8

Pregame tailgate for MicronPC.com Bowl at Pro Player Stadium: 9.75

Weather being warn enough for shorts: 9.5

Quality of chicken: 9

Quality of steak: 8.5 -- Not bad, just nothing compared to previous tailgate

Having rice: 8

Us not having onions: 2

Me being IMPROPERLY blamed for not having onions: 1.1

Zin taking footballs and pom poms from the Illinois pregame tent: 9

Guy hitting Z as he walked by: 2

Z not even acknowledging that he was hit: 8 -- "Z-I-N J-A-N is his name..."

Zin actually getting us tickets in a reasonably short period of time: 9.9975!!

Us getting tickets for $35 total: 8 -- pretty good, not our best...

Again, Zin actually getting us tickets in a reasonably short period of time: 9.9975!!

Illinois/Virginia game: 3

Quality and excitement of game: 1.5

Halftime ceremonies: 3

Illinois fan coming in with his Dad drunk and chanting "I-L-L...": 2

Illinois fan's story about driving 12...20...30 hours to see game: 8

Illinois fan being courteous after he swore: 6

Illinois fan's charm as game progressed: 7

Hammer's prediction of a 45-41 game: 5

80+ points actually being scored: 9.95

It being a complete blowout: 1

Hammer's prediction of it becoming more exciting if someone would start streaking: 9

Illinois fan being the one who began to disrobe: 1.25

Illinois fan leaving our side at halftime: 4

Drunk and disgruntled Virginia fans behind us: 2

Seeing Su on time at the airport: 9.975

Zin, Hal, and Ham staying up late and watching WAMI: 3

12/31/99

Getting up ultra-early with Su to play golf: 8 -- I was still really pumped, but getting a bit tired

Weather: 9 -- Best day of trip so far!! Warm and sunny!!

Golf at Costa Del Sol: 9

Zin, Hal, and Hammer being too lazy to get up and join us: 1.375

Us being the first ones out: 9.5

Our playing partner flaking: 9.5

Us basically being the only ones on the course after the second hole: 9.5

Course Layout: 5 -- Not horrible...

Course Conditions: 1.1 -- Horrible

Course Difficulty: 4

Course Value for Price: 5 -- Unbelievable price!!

Su coming to life on last few holes: 9.5

Quality of play by Bod: 7

Quality of play by Su: 5, but not bad for her first day of the trip

Me going for run to avoid having to go to Denny's: 9.75

Everyone else getting shut out at Denny's due to the long wait: 9.975 -- they don't realize how lucky they are!

NOTE: The next section of the day is a little fuzzy, pardon me if the ratings seem a little off

Lunch at Shula's Steak 2: 2

Beer at Shula's Steak 2: 8

Watching BC get absolutely pummeled during the first half of the Insight.com Bowl: 2

Leaving Shula's Steak 2 at halftime: 9.975

Zin getting us back to Lincoln at Doral in roughly 12 seconds: 9.5

The second half of the game: 2

More "Stoly" shots in room: 6

Me falling asleep on the floor: 95

Zin and Hal waking me up to get ready for New Year's Eve: 1.05 at the time, but 9 in retrospect since we would get out early

Me being FORCED to wear shoes and long pants: 1.5

Me being ridiculed endlessly about the socks and shoes I didn't want to wear: 1.25

Me misplacing my pill case because I was hurried: 1.1

NOTE: From this point on, things are less fuzzy

Getting to Miami Beach relatively quickly compared to traffic predictions: 9

Getting a parking spot away from the beach: 8 -- 9 at the time, 1.5 at the end of the night

Long walk behind Zin to the beach, apparently somewhat aimless: 1.125

Zin actually leading us to Fat Tuesday's, then securing the final table there for us for the night: 9.85

Finding the Thai House: 8

Wait for dinner at the Thai House: 3

Dinner at the Thai House: 7

Dishes other than the Sweet and Sour Fish: 7.5

Steamed Rice: 8.5

Having to look at the whole fish lying there on the table: 1.00025

Getting back to beach relatively early: 8.5

Drinks at Fat Tuesday's: 8.5

Fat Tuesday's not having my first, second, or third choices on drinks: 4 -- The Hurricanes were still good though

Zin and Ham ordering "Pain in the Ass"es: 9

Su and I dancing: 9

Unbelievable scene at midnight with chapagne flying and fireworks exploding: 9.75

Watching Hammer get to see girl pull her dress up and show her butt: 9.7

The guy next to us videotaping the girl's butt in the window: 8

Party continuing well past 2 at Fat Tuesday's: 9

Lying on chairs on beach afterward, in incredible late-night warmth: 9.5

Zin making us leave the chairs: 2 -- but I couldn't really be mad at him after the awesome effort with the table

HUGE walk back to car: 1.5

Zin getting us home from Miami Beach in approximately 7.2 seconds: 9.999975

1/1/2000

Sleeping until noon: 9.975

Zin, Hal, and Ham waking us up so that Su could go to Denny's: 2

Weather: 9 -- Getting ridiculous!!

Me running instead of going to Denny's: 9.99975

Hal and Ham both getting sick from Denny's: 5 -- I can't feel TOO sorry for thm, they should have known what they were getting into.

Hal beating me some more in Tetris: 2

Me trying for third jacuzzi of trip, only to find all jacuzzis cold: 1.25

Zin, Hal, and Ham watching TV FOREVER when it should have been time to go: 2.5

Pregame tailgate for Orange Bowl at Pro Player Stadium: 9.95

Weather being incredibly warm: 9.95

Quality of chicken: 9.5

Quality of steak: 9 -- Pretty good, WAY better than the last tailgate though not as good as the first

Having rice: 8

Us having onions again: 8

Orange Bowl game: 9

Quality and excitement of game: 9

Halftime festivities with Gladys Knight: 2 -- I need to write a letter...

Alabama and Michigan bands: 9

Zin, in his excitement to get back quickly from the bathroom late in the game, kicking a nearly-full coke over a row of seats onto an unsuspecting fan: 9.975

Blocked field goal to end regulation time: 9.99975

Missed extra point to end overtime: 2

1/2/2000

Sleeping late again: 9.975 -- I was exhausted!!

Weather: 9.25 -- Incredibly sunny and warm!

Giving Hammer a pill to ease his stomach problems: 8 -- Now you should REALIZE the value of a pill case!!

Eden Roc not having the breakfast buffet anymore: 2

Lunch at Eden Roc: 7.5

Food: 7

Outdoor atmosphere: 8

Long walk on the beach: 8

Getting to see Hammer see topless women on beach: 9

Drinks back at Eden Roc: 7

Lying with Su on beach: 8

Waiting while Zin, Hal, and Ham watched TV FOREVER when it was time to go back out: 2.5

Finally going out for dinner: 8

Dinner at Green Street in Coconut Grove: 8

Food (including breadsticks): 8

Service: 3 -- though not completely horrible by Miami standards

Outdoor cafe atmosphee: 8

Su seeing Jean Stapleton next to her picture on an advertisement: 9

Hammer doing a hillarious Edith Bunker impression: 8

Hammer not doing it to Jean Stapleton: 2

Drinks at Fat Tuesday's: 9.25

Su's birthday cake in Fat Tuesday's: 8.5

Zin getting us home from Coconut Grove in approximately 132 milliseconds: 9.5

1/3/2000

Waking up knowing the trip was almost over: 1

Weather: 9.975 -- 80+ degrees and sunny!! Insane!!

Hammer actually getting psyched for golf: 9 -- That's the OLD Hammer attitude!!

Golf at Shula's Par 3: 8

Course Layout: 3 -- It is what it is...

Course Conditions: 3 -- It is what it is...

Course Difficulty: 2

Them allowing a five-some: 9.5

Course Value for Price: 8 -- Good Price...

Quality of Play by Bod: 6

Quality of Play by Hammer: 8.5 -- He was the surprise of the day!!

Quality of Play by Su: 6

Quality of Play by Zin: 7

Quality of Play by Hal: 5

Bod, Hammer, and Su easily winning the challenge: 8

Hammer carrying the team: 9.5

The surprise factor that Hammer carried the team: 9.95

There actually being drinks on the 14th tee when people were dying from the heat: 9.95

Substantial Subs lunch: 8.25

Having to take Z to the airport: 1.00000000000000001

Knowing that Z was leaving meant I would be leaving soon: 1.000000000000000000000000000000001

Driving to Parrot Jungle in bad traffic: 2

Knowing that Parrot Jungle would close the box office at 4:30 and that it would be close: 1.25

Jumping out of the car to get tickets JUST before the box office closed: 9

Getting half-price tickets unexpectedly because it was late afternoon: 9

Seeing Hal, Ham, and Su feed the birds: 8

Watching birds ride bikes, scooters, etc.: 8

Seeing the gators, monkeys, flamingos, etc.: 7

Dinner at Shorty's: 9.75

Chicken Sandwich: 7

Potato: 9

Some of Su's ribs: 9.9

Some of Su's fries: 9

Seeing Su get corn in an OCEAN of butter: 9.75

Me eating enough this time: 9.95

Gameworks: 7.5

High-End Car Game: 8

Jurrasic Park Game: 7

Getting caught in Dinosaur's mouth in Jurassic Park game: 1.5

Watching Hammer beat Hal in virtual reality Baseball: 7

Beating Hammer one game of Pop-a-Shot: 9

Getting beat approximately 51-17 in each successive game: 2

Su and I dominating multi-puck air hockey: 8

Overall value for dollar: 8

Packing before bed: 1.0000000000000000000000000000000000001

1/4/2000

Getting up WAY too early (4:45AM): 1.01

Getting ready to leave: 1.0001

Having Hal and Hammer poing out HUMONGOUS bug in room: 1- -- lowest possible rating

Leaving Lincoln at Doral: 1.01 -- 0.01 point added because we were at least getting away from the bug

Hal and Hammer leaving us off: 5

That they woud let us off first and return the car: 9

That it meant we were actually leaving: 1

Being on time for the plane: 1.01

Feeling FREEZING burst of air on jetway in Chicago and knowing trip was over: 1

Overall trip rating: 9.975

Individual Ratings

Zin: 9.975 -- Lost some points for lack of golf enthusiasm, gained some back for New Year's Eve

Hal: 9.9999975 -- Gained some points for Jacaranda and Tetris efforts

Su: 10+, as always...

Ham: 9 -- Lost points for sleeping through golf, making Hal and Zin watch TV WAY too much, and going to Denny's and then complaining about it...Still, fine overall effort for a newcomer to the trip