Who Let the Dogs Out??

Last night was the big dog race half time show at the Iowa Women's Basketball game. There are about 9-10 dogs that come to entertain the crowd. They lay 2 mats down, which become the race lanes. They set up jumps and put a ball at the end of the run. They hold individual races then a few relay races at the end. There are all kids of dogs, many mutts, but there was a Lab, border collie, jack russell, german shepherd, etc. There was also an official, bet you couldn't guess who that was, that's right it was Josh. Good Times. I also made sure to get a delicious ice cream at the game too. Iowa played Michigan and won, 76-69 (i think)

Here is a video of the race, it is linked through youtube. Hope it works. You can copy and paste http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQ8Z612H9W0

Winter blahs

Winter brings the "Blahs." What can you do about, go to an Iowa bball game I guess. Well we did just that. Jolene went with me and we cheered the Hawks on to an overtime victory over Wisconsin. Click on the link, or copy and paste to listen to the trombones and tubas after the game. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bb555LYckgQ

we're back!!

Well we survived another vacation. We are back in the frigid tundra, known as Iowa. I guess we picked the best week to be away, however the entire country was under a cold spell, the warmest it was in Florida the last few days we were there was about 68 degrees.

Well lets see, where was I in the updating of the activities? Looks like i need to start with Wednesday. Since the cooler weather was moving in, we hoped in the car and headed to Fort Launderdale, about 60 miles south. We found a spot close to the beach for parking and sat on the beach in the sun all day. It was a bit windy, but nice. There were construction workers in the area, that took their lunch break on the beach, one guy was wearing a flannel shirt and stocking hat. I wonder what they would have worn in the actual cold.

We took the scenic route back to Jupiter along the ocean, we hadn't had anything to eat, so we stopped off at this place for a slice of pizza. We ordered 2 slices by mistake, they were huge, we ate like a half of a pizza each. Then we got back to Jupiter and got cleaned up for a late supper, not realizing how burnt we were. We went to this sports bar called the Quarterdeck, good food an lots of water!!

Then on Thursday the forecast was about 67 and cloudy. We just couldn't imagine not going to the beach that day, so we waited until the afternoon, when it might have been warmer. In the morning we went to a Busch Animal place, where they rescue animals people think are pets and try to release them back in the wild, or make a nice home for them. We saw foxes, gators, eagles, panthers, and many more. While we there we thought we woul dcheck out the gift shop, well the old lady running the place about checked out too...the EMT's were there, things weren't looking good for her health. We left and headed for the beach.

For supper we tried out this place called Guanabanas. A new restuarant in town desgined after Hawaii. The restuarant was entirely outside, well except for the kitchen. It was cool, palm trees and tiki huts. The food was delicious as well, I would highly recommend the macadamia nut, coconut encrusted snapper.

Each night we came back to the hotel room to the Game Show Network, I am addicted. I wish we had it at home. I think we can get it for a 2394 dollar upgrade. There is just something satisfying about yelling at the tv to answer the game show questions, makes you feel smarter than the contestant.

Friday came, and we had to get to Orlando by 6 ish to catch our flight. WE decided to leave early and take the ocean road back north, the interstate is just too boring. We took US Highway 1, there are lots of little ocean towns, with many expensive homes.

We stopped back at Cocoa Beach one last time, shopped around a little more, and decided to get a meal on the pier. It was the warmest spot around, in a break from the wind and facing the sun. There was a foursome from Boston at the bar that we chatted with as well. There are so many nice people vacationing in Florida, as well as nice locals, very laid back. While we were visiting and eating, Josh was the lucky one who got pooped on by a seagull! It really topped off the vacation, and it was super funny. After all that excitement we took one last walk on the beach, Josh changed his shirt and we headed for Orlando.

Once in Orlando we were going to visit with some folks who winter there, that are from Iowa. We managed to catch up with them for a little while, then had to be off as to not miss our flight, we still had to return the rental.

We grabbed a super quick bite to eat at Joe's Crab Shack, and in the hub-bub Josh left his debit card behind. Things were not looking up for him.

We returned the car, checked in and were ready to fly home. We were both anxious as we saw on the news the previous day the plane crash in New York. I hate flying to begin with, I was so happy when we landed at the Moline airport just before midnight.

We bundled up, as much as we could, considering we didn't take our winter coats to FLorida, found our car, cleaned the snow off, and made the trek back to Iowa City. And that is our vacation. We aren't planning any more vacations for a while, i will appreciate the break from flying. However this time of year does get a little boring ( i am sure i will be super busy with the scrapbooking)

Florida needs a lesson in weather

So while getting ready for supper we caught the local news. The weather came on and the guy gave his 7 day forecast. The graphic came up with the pictures of sun or clouds and the temperatures. Get this, the next few days is supposed to be 70 degrees, and maybe in the 50's at night, over those days the word "Chilly" was written. Are you kidding me????? that is not chilly, that is still t-shirt weather. The news anchor ended the segment by saying don't forget your sweater.

And now as I write this we are watching the late news, where they are whining again about how cold it is going to get. Man these people are a bunch of whiners and babies. You know they need to spend a week in Iowa. They would never make it.

You can't take Josh anywhere....

So this story starts on Sunday night. We were sitting at the Sunset bar and Grille, and Josh notices this guy walk by in a refferee shirt, so of course he has to say something. This guy, we will call him "Bob", talks and says he has something to do with officiating and organized AAU basketball. They continued to talk and what do you know Bob knows the Alfords and some other guy at Iowa. I tell you it is a small world.

So we leave the restaurant and are in search of some ice cream, but end up at Dunkin Donuts. SO who is at the counter ordering his coffee, yep that is Bob. Oh wait that is not it, on Monday night when we are at the Sandbar, guess who walks in, and we pretend not to see him, yep that is right, Bob makes and appearance. Now you know the real reason we left Cocoa.

Story number 2: Well so Josh and I have quite a considerable amount of Iowa clothing, and we wear it where ever we go. So tonight Josh and I are at the Alehouse grabbing a beer after supper. We both have our Iowa gear on and there is this group of old men sitting next to us at the bar, when one pipes up and says what is that chicken on your coat? And Josh says that is a hawkeye, you know the University of Iowa.

The old man gets the attention of another old guy in their party. SO making the world even smaller, the other guy says that 2 of his daughters played field hockey at Iowa. he drops their names and josh says he remembers that name. So the old man calls someone on his cell phone and passes it over to Josh, where josh has to have some conversation about feild hockey and Iowa, and of course Steve Alford gets mentioned as well. What is it with these people? Anyway, Iowa ties are everywhere.

And for all of those angry about be calling these men old, they were old, the one guy got a to go box for his ice cream desert. I don't know about you but by the time he got home it would be soup, who takes home ice cream? They were a cute bunch of guys though

"cold" front

Wow the Floridians are getting a little whiny, they are complaining about the weather, and it is in the high 60's. I should send a few to Iowa, I heard it is quite frigid there.

So to update you on our adventure, we have been busy doing nothing. The weather forecast for cocoa was 66 and rainy on Monday, so we did some internet research and discovered that Jupiter, to the south, would be a little warmer. So all 3 of us hoped in the car and took the 2 hour drive.

It was well worth it, I believe it was 77 degrees and sunny. We picked a beach near a fishing pier, and it had restrooms. The water was very calm as well. After lounging around on the beach all day, we packed it up and headed back to Cocoa.

We got all cleaned up and went out to eat at the Sandbar and Grille. The restaurants down here are so low key, it is great! Valerie got to enjoy a dollar margarita and Josh and I got a pitcher of Longboard Lager, (made in Hawaii) and we also got free nachos. We also got some killer fish tacos.

At the restuarant we overhead this hydrated bar patron, he had been there since 4 pm and was on his 12th 1 dollar margarita. Every converstaion he had, on the phone or to the waitress included a mention of the "F" word at least 5 times.

After we stuffed ourselves with liquor and food, we had to stop at the famous Ron Jon Surf Shop, open 24 hours. There were lots of things to look at and purchase. After that we headed back to the hotel.

We had decided to head south to find to keep with the warmth. SO Josh and I made arrangements to book a hotel in Jupiter for the next few days. Making a day trip to Miami or Fort Lauderdale a possibility.

Tuesday morning, Valerie had to make her way back to Georgia, so we got some more DUnkin Donuts and said our goodbyes. then Josh and I headed south to Jupiter, to hang on the beach, the forecast was to be about 80 and partly cloudy.

We got to the hotel about 1pm, and the clouds were out, but it was about 76 degrees. SO we grabbed some great lunch at this chicken joint and bolted for the beach. Well the clouds kept moving in and so did a few rain showers. HEy you don't have to shovel rain, so we stayed at the beach for about 2 or so hours, the waves were crazy. We managed to enjoy the cloudy weather.

We came back to the hotel, to get cleaned up and went to another low key restuarant for supper. WE are stuffed, we had 2 dinners, a beer, an iced tea, and appetizer and desert for only 31 dollars. Then we had to cap the night off by hanging with the townies at a bar.

Feelin the burn

Hey all!!! Hope you are all surviving 2009. Josh and I are in Cocoa Beach, Florida. We left Iowa Saturday January 10th, in the midst of a snow storm from the Moline airport. Arrived to the Orlando airport and 68 degrees.

We retrieved our bags and needed to go rent our car so we could drive the final 50 minutes to Cocoa. We rent from National Car Rental, and with the program Josh has we could choose up to a full size car. Well wouldn't you know it sitting in the row for a choice was a convertible, a 2009 chrylser sebring type car, I know the old lady convertible, but still. SO we made sure our suitcases would fit and we were on our way.

The minute we checked into our ocean view hotel room (we have a view of the Kennedy space center area), we quickly put on our flip flops to hit the moon lit beach. Then we decided we should eat. We ate at the hotel lounge where this dude who claimed to be a musician was performing. He was interesting and slightly entertaining. After supper we had to get back on the beach again, yeah we are tourists.

We woke up this morning and decided all we were going to do today was nothing!!! After eating the 2 for 1 breakfast special we rented some beach chairs and sat on the beach the whole day, it was 79 degrees. So we are a little lobster-fied. I know, I know, but we didn't come all this way to stay pastey white.

Late in the afternoon Josh's mom arrived, we hadn't seen her in a year, so we relaxed on the beach before we decided to all go to supper. We ate at this place where you could see the sunset, on the western side of town (cocoa is on the east coast of FL) the service was not so good, but we ended up getting there so early that we got in on the early bird special (you know this is an old people state) so that wasn't so bad. Then we tried to find some ice cream, cruising around in our old lady convertible, but settled on some dunkin donuts coffee.

Now before I write this next part, brace yourself it is a little bit of whining. I know you are all stuck in the frigid cold, and snow....but tomorrow it is supposed to be 66 and rainy. What to do in a beach town? Well how about a road trip....we are heading south to Jupiter or somewhere near there. It is supposed to be 76 and sunny.

So while waiting for tomorrow to come, Josh and I went to sit in the hot tub at the hotel. There were 2 guys in it as well, we chatted and found out they were from Ohio. They proceed to tell us of their bad flight down and how they almost had an emergency landing minutes after they departed. I asked what airline they traveled, and it was airtran, the same one we have to go back on. They said the wheel hub was loose on a wheel. I hate flying as it is, so maybe we will be back a little later than expected, I wonder what Josh thinks about driving back?

SO that is that, will blog you later, taters!

yikes...

It has been forever and a day since I last updated. Well let's see....New Years was pretty mellow for us. We ordered some Happy Joe's Taco pizza with the neighbor, then went for a drink at the Okoboji Grill, and then watched some stupid stunt guy on ESPN try to jump some stuff in Vegas, and rang in the new year on the couch. Exciting, let me tell you!!!

New Years Day, was the day for some Hawkeye football. The Hawkeyes were playing South Carolina in the Outback Bowl. We invited my parents over and the neighbor and had some tailgating types of foods. We cheered the Hawkeyes to a very convincing victory. That is the way to start a year.

In other exciting news I have been busy trying to complete a scrapbook for our wedding, I know I am a little behind. I guess I just get involved in way too many old lady craft projects.

Josh was busy manning the athletic department while most everyone went to Florida for the bowl game. He also has been busy officiating many basketball games.

Last weekend Josh and I went to visit Amb and Josh. We brought Kona, to meet Ed, their boxer. Wow, that was fun. They never sat and relaxed. They played the entire time, running around the house and the backyard. Kona thought it was fun to take Ed's toys aways from him. I also helped Amber get a jump start on the wedding planning, while the guys enjoyed some football.

I guess that brings me to about now. Just another week of work. Then Josh and I are taking off for Florida ourselves. I hope to do nothing but lounge around on the beach. We take too many vacations that involve too many activities, and you need to take a vacation when you come back. Hope this one is relaxing. Josh's mom is also going to come visit while we are there, margarita party time!!!