The One Stop Shop

There is nothing like being on holiday. Ive done nothing but wander around, party gretts and commit gluttony. I'm quiting smoking for 09 so this vacation has sort of been a long kiss good bye if you will. My father decided to spend a few days with us, he hasn't been down south in over 20 years so it was quite a joy for him especially getting out of the snow. We headed to Orlando for a little family "fun" for the holidays, I emphasize the word fun. My uncle was throwing a little Xmas shin-dig at his place. Its been some time now since Ive seen my parents in the same room together, quite weird and certainly shocking. Everyone behaved themselves and it turned out OK. I told D i wasn't going to attend unless someone brought a bottle of that Fussy Pussy.



The next day we strolled around O-town for a bit. Here's what you get when you mix Colt 45, a 50 yard street curb and some paint. Apparently its pretty "Eazy"


We stopped over at A. Rudi Cuellar's Lock for a look at the new shop.
Plug


witnessed a parade


We dropped pops off at the airport and ended the evening with a well balanced meal, containing all the major food groups.


D couldn't get enough shopping in before Christmas so she went back for more, only this time dragged me along with her. I opted to bring T-pain with me for some company while she engrossed in retail hell.



Creepy


We did all we could do and saw all there is to see in second largest tourist attraction in the country, so we headed home. The drive was as pleasant as could be especially when everyone in the car is sleeping. Must be nice



I'm using this guy for my next plumbing and or A/C repair


In closing

Mass Branding

I'm taking my name to the next level. Labeling things such as rod holders, TP, paper towel dispensers, and much more things alike. I'll be sure to remember all you little people on my journey to prominence.

The other night i took D to see the all time, high voltage Australian rock band "Acca Dacca" a.k.a AC/DC. It was our first time seeing them and probably our last considering they're in their 60's. The energy and performance was epic. The production was also impressive. Out of all the shows I've seen lately, this one by far takes the cake. One would think for guys their age, the show would be just shy of boring. It was everything but boring.

Go see AC/DC

Yesterday D coordinated a little holiday lunch. It was good fun with family and friends. She took a stab at baking, it being her first time she sure did a fine job. Theirs nothing like a fine woman in the kitchen.



All was good until she decided to dress the chihuahua, its no wonder he favors me more.



I'm on holiday for the rest of the year so there will be nothing but repose going on

Get 'em while they're hot!

I woke up early today for a little angling with Marcel and Co. I always enjoy being awake just as the sun shows its face.


It was definitely a fun day and much deserved. Its always good when each person gets to leave with a nice lunker. And just like that is was over.


My buddy Marcel just recently purchased a brand new Kayak and is currently in the accessorize phase, as he should be. After fishing we took a drive to a local Kayak shop in Dania Beach, we certainly indulged in the accessory dept. It becomes clear that you have a problem when you start purchasing things you simply just don't need. He has been on me for sometime now to purchase a "Yak" for myself and I must admit I'm pretty close to doing just that.

Tempting

Nice n Easy

We conducted some business in the AM, spoke a bit of shop and headed for Burlington. The drive was going well till we hit the fog, what was an hour and a half drive turned into a 3 hour drive thanks to the visibility. We made it in one piece and all was good.


After uploading some software and more shop talk we waited for the DS crew to shutdown. I took a stroll through the shop and found these two huge search light looking lamps, circa 1960. Turns out they are actually old Morse code lights used on old school destroyer ships. The owner had 3 of them scattered throughout the building, he got them from a ship that was being decommissioned. I asked him what he planned on doing with with them, he simply shrugged his shoulders and said "nothing". I guess one government's trash is another man's treasure.


Look Mom! the world's biggest iris. Amazingly, the shutter technology found in this lamp is still used in today's automated lamps.


We left the shop for a little Green Mountain fun. Burlington is a pretty cool town, a college town mostly. It has a lot of old architecture and is filled with the occasional weather station.














I've been there a few times but mainly in the warmer seasons. As we were walking the street a big huge cement truck turned the corner. Apparently the local concrete company is heavy into the holiday spirit.


Before

After


In closing

Freeride

It has been 10+ years since I've been on a snowboard and boy was it relishable. It was one of those moments where everything felt just right, the planets were aligned, conditions were perfect (not that I have any idea what perfect conditions are like) and not a tourist in sight. I also managed to score huge with a free lift ticket and free rental gear, theirs nothing like a FREE day of riding. Thank you Creative!


For a guy that hasn't been on a snowboard in years I sure did tear it up, as the Northerners call it. I only ate snow on 2 occasions, mostly due to the fact that i wasn't paying attention and the beer at lunch probably wasn't such a good idea. Aside from "tearing it up" and carving through powder, the view on the way up was majestic. Their is nothing more amazing than viewing a large portion of the Adirondack Park from above, well there might be one thing but it comes pretty fucking close.

view from the summit





ah, fresh powder

All in all it was a great day. On the last ride halfway down the trail I looked to my right and saw this


I'm definitely coming back before the season is over. Any takers?

In Style Blogging

I made it home today, fortunately without freezing to death. I took on temperatures ranging from 10 to 20 degrees, 3 solid days of absolutely no cell service and, little to no Internet access. We flew into Albany pretty late and took a 2 hour drive to North Creek. Got to the hotel excuse me, lodge and crashed in this "Dances with Wolves" motif bed. Yes, that is a deer antler lamp.





I had some time during the day to roam around town before going to a holiday party.


do not eat the yellow snow

While walking around and embracing mother nature's frigid air in all its glory i came upon an old abandoned train car. It reminded me of that movie "Into the Wild." At that moment i flipped a coin, heads i go back to civilization and tales, i take my chances in the wild. Thankfully the better of the two happened.




The holiday party was pretty cool and some fun with fellow business partners but it did not end well for one party goer.

Beta

So I've decided to give blogging a go and see what all the hype is about. I hear blogging is like keeping a journal of some sort only in this case the whole world can view it. I figure if someone finds pleasure or entertainment in reading about my daily struggles and my obnoxious antics then more power to 'em.



I work for a lighting manufacture and they have me on the road quite a bit. Its pretty cool, i get to go to a plethora of cool places, some cooler than others (figuratively and physically speaking). The downside is I'm away from home, my girlfriend, and the chihuahua (T-Pain). The gig does pay the bills so i think I'll hold on to it for a while. I'm off to North Creek tomorrow, a small town in the Adirondack Mt's. Aside from freezing my ass off (8 degrees) and conducting a little business I am looking forward to to hitting some fresh powder, snow that is. I haven't been snowboarding in ions so for sure I'm going to enjoy this trip. After NY, its a short drive to VT for some good clean fun with the Dark Star crew. The name of this company was most definitely taken from a Grateful Dead song but i cant help but think what else resembles "The Dark Star" if you know what i mean. They just bought a bunch of our latest MACs so i think a night out in the Green State is in order.

This whole blogging idea isn't such a bad one after all