Key West 2016

Another installment of our annual couples trip with the crazy posse from North Carolina. This year we added Mike and Jill from Florida to ensure we reached maximum fun saturation levels.

Summer Road Trip (Part One)

With the lacrosse season ended, and our ants-in-the-pants wanderlust in full gear, the Mrs. and I hopped in the Buttercream Bruiser and pointed the truck towards Florida.

Our first stop was the Big Easy where our rock star niece Julia was celebrating her trusty sidekick Josette's birthday. We arrived around 10pm and headed out to the Treme' neighborhood. 

The neighborhood has received a lot of attention since the HBO series "Treme'" hit the airwaves, but it has always been an center of African-American and Creole culture in New Orleans....and, of course, the brass band tradition.

It was a late, fun-filled night....which we regretted the next morning when we had to hit the road for the 650 mile, 11 hour drive to Tampa.

It felt like the longest day ever........ever......ever.

We stayed in a hotel just outside Tampa so we would be fresh for the next day.

We swung by and picked up Tina Beena and Florida Shirl...then on to one of our favorite places on Planet Earth..

The Miramar!

Ahhh the Miramar Beach Resort. Our traditional gathering place in Florida where every year we get to hang out with all of our old West Florida friends, relax, laugh, eat, laugh, drink, laugh and laugh.

3 days of bliss. No worries, no stress, no tasks, nothing to do at all. Just hanging out.

Just catching up with family and friends. It is the good life....and it was my birthday.

Daytime party turns to nighttime party...which turns to daytime party....repeat.

As usual....it was fantastic. It is my favorite weekend of the year.

Alas, all good things must come to an end...and off we went to our next destination....

St Augustine for my Mom's birthday!

My eternally youthful mother and her family have a secret to longevity. Buttercream and Cannoli Filling.

My Moms custom made birthday cake weighed approximately 5 pounds and had 4 inches of Buttercream topping. It is so absurd and profane, I don't even know what to make of it. I thought all cakes were like this until as a child I was over a friends house and they brought out some bullshit spongecake.

Look at this freakin' cake!

I ate one small slice and I felt like I had swallowed a phone book...a New York City phone book...but..who am I to argue with my mother's family traditions? The cake was oh so delicious and only 3000 calories a slice!

After just one night with the family, we were off again....next stop South Carolina!

We stopped by old friends Darren and Erin's house in Sumter, where Darren is currently stationed with the Air Force. Unfortunately he is in Afghanistan...but we met two people we have never met before (its been a long time)

Cole & Eric

Sigh...we haven't seen our friends in so long, they have kids running around, walking and talking...and jumping...and wrestling...and swimming. They are very active and funny. I had a blast with them, like making them clean up their toys.

Erin, the hostest with mostest, made us a delicious dinner. She is quite simply the best cook I have ever met. (disclaimer: except my wife and mother....whew that was close)

It was really, really great catching up. We even got a chance to skype with Darren in Afghanistan!

The next day we all went to lunch, but then we had to hit the road again...next stop, visiting Joe & Michelle in NC.

Unfortunately, we didn't take many pictures in Fayetteville...but I can describe what they would look like.

Picture 1: Dinner made by Michelle. Breaded and Pan-Fried Pork Chops, Gravy, Rice, Cabbage and Cornbread...this picture would either be of me hugging the stove where she made it or of a small pile of bones that Joe had sucked clean. He is a one man wrecking crew who literally doesnt leave a speck of food on his plate or any bones.

Picture 2: Two black people pissed off and confused wondering how two suburban white people kicked the living shit out of them at Spades. (Black people think they own the game...not true sir!)

In 1988, a 17yr old Army Private (Me) got to his first duty station in Germany and was paired up with a "seasoned" 21 year old Specialist (Joe) who was to "show him the ropes". We took a picture shortly after of Joe and I standing in front of our Humvee...I still have that picture somewhere in storage. 23 years later, we took this picture.

It was great night hanging out with  old friends....but the next day, we were off again!

Next stop......Charlotte! (stay tuned)

Spring Break Road Trippin' - Part One

Freshly released from my 9 to 5 and having 12 days off from coaching, Spring Break gave the Mrs. and I an opportunity to go anywhere in the World....unfortunately, you can't fly anywhere for cheap during SB. Undaunted, we hit the highway and pointed the truck towards Florida.

Our first destination was St Augustine to visit with Mom. Its a 900 mile drive, so we did it in two legs. We left Houston at 6pm and drove 6 hours to Bay St Louis, MS the first night, slept in the truck and headed out the next morning. We had packed the back of the truck with sleeping bags and bedding so we could sleep in the truck, a plan that played out well over the next 2 weeks.

I was planning on surprising Mom but the Mrs. insisted I call her once we got to Florida to give her a few hours notice. The surprise might have been ruined....but it gave Mom enough time to make me some meatloaf! She knows I love her meatloaf. :) After dinner, I slept in the truck again....Mom has cats...booooo allergies.

After one night in St Augustine, we shot down to Vero Beach (175 miles) to visit friends Kent and Liz. We met up with them in the early evening, lit a fire in the backyard, let Kent grill us some steaks and drank too much wine.

 It was one of those perfect evenings. Just hanging out with friends, shooting the shit.

 Kent and Liz have a dog...so allergy sufferer Me got to sleep in the truck...for the 3rd night in a row.

In the morning we struck out for the West Coast of Florida...Vero to Tampa (140 miles). Rather than take the interstate, we took State Road 60 which cuts across Florida through some smaller towns including Yeehaw Junction, Lake Wales, Bartow and Mulberry.

Somewhere along the way we found an RV supercenter...so we posed as interested shoppers and had a look.

They had LOADS of different types and styles of RVs...some were crazy expensive, some not so bad. We could definitely picture ourselves getting one in later years and tooling around the country.

They really have everything you could possibly need. Very cool indeed.

Back on the road, we have places to be! (not really, we didn't even know where we staying each night because we didn't tell anyone we were coming.)

Not much else to speak of along the way from Vero to Tampa...Citrus Groves...swamp....these two chicks crossing a 4 lane divided highway...on Rascals! Cross at the green, not in between!

Most of my family happened to be in St Pete visiting, so we all met up for an early dinner downtown. Perfect!

After dinner, we headed to Tony and Michelle's house...which we have never seen since they moved in when we were in Ireland. They have done a bunch of remodeling and have more to go, but the house is coming along great. Their son Carter is a bruiser and is totally the boss of his Dad. :)

Tony and Michelle also have a dog, but there was no way I was sleeping in the truck again. So I chanced having allergy problems and slept in their guest room. No problems at all...whew! A good nights rest and we were out and on the road again...but first, some big 'Merican Breakfast.

On the move after breakfast, we swung by Jim and Nancy's, got stuck at a drawbridge, and drove past our old house on the way to MegaKens.

We also drove by the Hindu Temple they had been building when we moved....neat!

Lots has changed at Megan and Ken's as well.....like this little munchkin...

It was great hanging out with the ol' neighbors...and having an allergy free bedroom to stay in!

The next day, we hit the road again to meet up with the family at Brian's house down in Punta Gorda.

Its rare we have most of us in one place, so it was nice  catching up.

We played with turtles.....

 ..saw some impressive bike riding...

...and Drank MOONSHINE! Standard family stuff really....

A great time....stay tuned for Road Trip part two coming soon.

I'm going to ask for a Pegasus next

My niece Katie made me this origami unicorn while I was visiting Florida.  She's awesome.

-k.

Tampa & St Pete !

Ahhhh Tampa. After a few days in frigid New York, I flew to Tampa to see old friends and family.

Kelly flew direct to Florida from Dublin a few days earlier, so she picked me up at the airport and we went straight to one of our favorite restaurants for some dinner with friends.

Nice view of downtown Tampa from Landrys on the Courtney Campbell Causeway...

Kelly had her favorite meal, the meal of which she dreams and tells stories about....the $35 crab feast. Crab prepared 7 different ways in a platter designed for 2 people...or one happy Kelly.

After dinner we drove to old neighbors Megan & Ken's house....Megan & Ken, previously known as Megaken are now renamed PreggaKen as they are expecting a baby sometime later this year. They got a great house on a lake in Carrollwood and are remodeling it.

Here I help Ken install a microwave above the stove...and check his prostate.

Sunday was a Thunder game day, so although I am still nursing a rib injury, i went to the game to see all my former teammates...including Bingo, who as you can see below found a weave and made it into crotch decor. At least he wore an Ireland Pinney in my honor.

After the Tampa Thunder stomped a mudhole in the Ft Meyers team, we all went to Fergs Sports Bar in St Pete and drank 435 pitchers of beer and had a few snacks. Then we all went to Bingos house for the after-party after-party. It was great hanging out with ol crew again.

above Tony, Chris, Kirk, Clayton and Ralph.

below, Spades Jedi Masters Chris & Ken deal out another ass whooping to Bingo with new partner Clayton....how do we convince people to play us ?

While Kenny and I got some grub, the girls played some foosball...

Sunday was also Tony's birthday....pile on !

We stayed at Tony's house for two days while we visited with my brother & his kids (thats the next post) and then went to our old favorite hangout the Miramar Beach Resort, the scene of many a party including our going away party in June 2007, and our return party last February.
(see our archives for those posts)

I was able to work a few hours each day...how would you like this view from your office ?

Moving away from Florida has really made us appreciate it again. Beautiful.

On our last night everyone came down to the Miramar for a party. Party VIP's and SuperGuests Dale & Dalean always bring something awesome....in 2007 they brought 240 Jell-o shots, this time.... an X-Box and Guitar Hero including the drum kit !

Holy Crap...all I have to say is I NAILED the drum part to Livin' on a Prayer.

More pics to come of Brian & the Kids, The Miramar Guitar Hero Jam Band and more !