SB05
So spring break 2005….
Friday~ I finished my Hewitt paper on Google and “the reasons they have and will continue to lead the internet search engine industry” at 0600 to get up at 0730 to leave for the airport. After an incredibly turbulent flight on southwest airlines, we landed in Orlando for my third spring break there in a row. I was so excited to get out of the Academy because it was starting to stress me out, and that doesn’t normally happen. It was warm and not snowing!, what a novelty for March. My parents took the redeye Friday night and arrived Saturday morning. I love seeing them and hanging out with the ‘rents.
Saturday~ We had our first outdoor softball practice of the season and it was sweet to actually catch fly balls without having to worry about hitting the ceiling, and real dirt and grass. After practice mama and daddy and I headed out to Seaworld. Thanks to Anhauser-Busch for the free admission for serving our great country. Sea lions are so smart and killer whales are supersweet. Daddy and I went on all the roller coasters at least twice. Then we saw Trick Pony in concert performing at Seaworld. We couldn’t see very well because the amphitheatre was designed horribly. The rents enjoyed the show too which I was happy about.
Sunday~ We had games in the morning against Baldwin-Wallace (who we have a Florida rivalry with) and Cortland State We won the first 3-1 and I started in right field and hitting left-handed. No hits to my name. The second was not so fortunate as we lost 8-0. ouch. My family joined the Kimmels’ and Adrian, Shoney and Steph Adams at Arabian Nights. They did tons of tricks on horseback and it reminded me of my vaulting days (gymnastics on horseback) that I used to do at camp every summer. I miss riding very much.
Monday~ It was our free day so daddy, mama and I headed over to Tampa and Busch Gardens. WOW. It was incredible to see all those animals and learn about them. We got in free here too. Thanks A-B. Did you know that within hours of being born a wildebeest can keep up with the running stampede? Did you know that an antelope has an 8-foot vertical? Daddy and I rode more awesome rollercoasters like the Montu. Mama got a henna tattoo of a Chinese character that means love. Such a rebel. We ran into my roomie Erin and her spring break group too. What a small world. After graduating from Budweiser Beer school and sampling Bud Select (smoother than Bud Light) and B to the E (which was pretty good for a non-“energy drink” caffeinated beer) We drove to St. Petersburg to have dinner with my great aunt and uncle who are springing in Florida for 3 months. What a life, if I liked Florida.
Tuesday~ More games. We beat Rhodes College 3-0. One of the players came up to us after the game and said that she had applied to the Academy twice and did not get in. So she went to boot camp this summer and is now in the reserves serving in Memphis on whatever river that is. She is going to graduate next year and plans to go through OCS. It is so cool running into people who love the Coast Guard. We lost the second game. That night my rents took DeCarol, Adrian, Emily and me out to dinner at Outback. I was so full, and my small filet mignon was incredible.
Wednesday~ Rain… Rain… Rain… so no games. My parents left in the morning. We lounged around all day instead of playing Merchant Marine and Indiana-Wesleyan. I watched Oprah for the first time in my life and it was pretty good. She had the biggest baby shower ever. She was at a Kentucky Army base and gave lots of stuff away to the 640 expecting mothers there. How generous. We made Malibu baybreezes to celebrate our only night without a curfew. The somewhat deep conversation lasted until past 0300.
Thursday~ It was our other free day so Shoney and I joined the Harris family for the day. We hung out at Cocoa Beach at the Ron Jon Resort. The Harris’ went to a time-share brief but did not buy anything regardless of the aggressive efforts of the mean salesman. The wind was harsh so we did not stay on the beach too long and moved to the pool area. There was supposed to be a rocket launch but it got cancelled. I was so bummed cause I went to see one my freshman year and that got cancelled too. Maybe next year.
Friday~ After a two day break we played some more softball. And lost both of the games. I missed two balls due to the wicked wind. I lost my starting spot. I laid out for the first time, it was about time for me to get some color. If we did not go back to CT with a winning record, I have to have something to show for the week in Florida. That night, we checked out downtown Disney and saw Eisley, Reggie in full effect and NEW FOUND GLORY in concert at House of Blues. We missed about half of New Found Glory due to our 11pm curfew. House of Blues is an awesome venue because it is small but with big name bands.
Saturday~ We finally started to hit. We beat Swarthmore 12-0. And went into extra innings with Coe College who is ranked like #4 for D3. The Coe game was a nail biter. After the defeat, I laid out some more until I got bored an hour and a half later. We had dinner at Macaroni Grill. I had never been there before and it was quite tasty. After some Franzia, we headed to Pleasure Island and shook our booties until 0200.
Sunday~ Spring break ended with snow welcoming us back to school where procrastination begins as well as 6 weeks left in the semester and softball season.
Wow~ Orlando is huge. 88.3FM has great positive music. I wish there was a Christian music station in the New London area. Sea Lions are smart. Those long horns have really long horns. I went to IHOP 6 out of 8 days. Those Country Griddle cakes are incredible. Where can I go on a paid vacation with my family, friends, play softball, visit theme parks, enjoy the entertainment, and escape the freezing weather of CT for a week in March? No where but Orlando and the best spring break yet.
Wonder~ Where do all the people who work in the tourism business around Disney live? Where do they come from? The chain restaurants have it so easy. There food doesn’t have to be that good cause they have the name that draws the tourists in.
My dad and I bond on rollercoasters, my mom and I bond shopping. How do my mom and brother bond, dad and ben? Why do spring breaks only happen when we are young? Don’t we need them more as we grow older? Was this the best spring break I will ever have, or will next year prevail? Only time will tell.
Friday~ I finished my Hewitt paper on Google and “the reasons they have and will continue to lead the internet search engine industry” at 0600 to get up at 0730 to leave for the airport. After an incredibly turbulent flight on southwest airlines, we landed in Orlando for my third spring break there in a row. I was so excited to get out of the Academy because it was starting to stress me out, and that doesn’t normally happen. It was warm and not snowing!, what a novelty for March. My parents took the redeye Friday night and arrived Saturday morning. I love seeing them and hanging out with the ‘rents.
Saturday~ We had our first outdoor softball practice of the season and it was sweet to actually catch fly balls without having to worry about hitting the ceiling, and real dirt and grass. After practice mama and daddy and I headed out to Seaworld. Thanks to Anhauser-Busch for the free admission for serving our great country. Sea lions are so smart and killer whales are supersweet. Daddy and I went on all the roller coasters at least twice. Then we saw Trick Pony in concert performing at Seaworld. We couldn’t see very well because the amphitheatre was designed horribly. The rents enjoyed the show too which I was happy about.
Sunday~ We had games in the morning against Baldwin-Wallace (who we have a Florida rivalry with) and Cortland State We won the first 3-1 and I started in right field and hitting left-handed. No hits to my name. The second was not so fortunate as we lost 8-0. ouch. My family joined the Kimmels’ and Adrian, Shoney and Steph Adams at Arabian Nights. They did tons of tricks on horseback and it reminded me of my vaulting days (gymnastics on horseback) that I used to do at camp every summer. I miss riding very much.
Monday~ It was our free day so daddy, mama and I headed over to Tampa and Busch Gardens. WOW. It was incredible to see all those animals and learn about them. We got in free here too. Thanks A-B. Did you know that within hours of being born a wildebeest can keep up with the running stampede? Did you know that an antelope has an 8-foot vertical? Daddy and I rode more awesome rollercoasters like the Montu. Mama got a henna tattoo of a Chinese character that means love. Such a rebel. We ran into my roomie Erin and her spring break group too. What a small world. After graduating from Budweiser Beer school and sampling Bud Select (smoother than Bud Light) and B to the E (which was pretty good for a non-“energy drink” caffeinated beer) We drove to St. Petersburg to have dinner with my great aunt and uncle who are springing in Florida for 3 months. What a life, if I liked Florida.
Tuesday~ More games. We beat Rhodes College 3-0. One of the players came up to us after the game and said that she had applied to the Academy twice and did not get in. So she went to boot camp this summer and is now in the reserves serving in Memphis on whatever river that is. She is going to graduate next year and plans to go through OCS. It is so cool running into people who love the Coast Guard. We lost the second game. That night my rents took DeCarol, Adrian, Emily and me out to dinner at Outback. I was so full, and my small filet mignon was incredible.
Wednesday~ Rain… Rain… Rain… so no games. My parents left in the morning. We lounged around all day instead of playing Merchant Marine and Indiana-Wesleyan. I watched Oprah for the first time in my life and it was pretty good. She had the biggest baby shower ever. She was at a Kentucky Army base and gave lots of stuff away to the 640 expecting mothers there. How generous. We made Malibu baybreezes to celebrate our only night without a curfew. The somewhat deep conversation lasted until past 0300.
Thursday~ It was our other free day so Shoney and I joined the Harris family for the day. We hung out at Cocoa Beach at the Ron Jon Resort. The Harris’ went to a time-share brief but did not buy anything regardless of the aggressive efforts of the mean salesman. The wind was harsh so we did not stay on the beach too long and moved to the pool area. There was supposed to be a rocket launch but it got cancelled. I was so bummed cause I went to see one my freshman year and that got cancelled too. Maybe next year.
Friday~ After a two day break we played some more softball. And lost both of the games. I missed two balls due to the wicked wind. I lost my starting spot. I laid out for the first time, it was about time for me to get some color. If we did not go back to CT with a winning record, I have to have something to show for the week in Florida. That night, we checked out downtown Disney and saw Eisley, Reggie in full effect and NEW FOUND GLORY in concert at House of Blues. We missed about half of New Found Glory due to our 11pm curfew. House of Blues is an awesome venue because it is small but with big name bands.
Saturday~ We finally started to hit. We beat Swarthmore 12-0. And went into extra innings with Coe College who is ranked like #4 for D3. The Coe game was a nail biter. After the defeat, I laid out some more until I got bored an hour and a half later. We had dinner at Macaroni Grill. I had never been there before and it was quite tasty. After some Franzia, we headed to Pleasure Island and shook our booties until 0200.
Sunday~ Spring break ended with snow welcoming us back to school where procrastination begins as well as 6 weeks left in the semester and softball season.
Wow~ Orlando is huge. 88.3FM has great positive music. I wish there was a Christian music station in the New London area. Sea Lions are smart. Those long horns have really long horns. I went to IHOP 6 out of 8 days. Those Country Griddle cakes are incredible. Where can I go on a paid vacation with my family, friends, play softball, visit theme parks, enjoy the entertainment, and escape the freezing weather of CT for a week in March? No where but Orlando and the best spring break yet.
Wonder~ Where do all the people who work in the tourism business around Disney live? Where do they come from? The chain restaurants have it so easy. There food doesn’t have to be that good cause they have the name that draws the tourists in.
My dad and I bond on rollercoasters, my mom and I bond shopping. How do my mom and brother bond, dad and ben? Why do spring breaks only happen when we are young? Don’t we need them more as we grow older? Was this the best spring break I will ever have, or will next year prevail? Only time will tell.