Just back from a fantastic weekend getaway to Tampa Bay, FL. Something we had planned a few months ago, but with all the activity from the wife’s final exams, and Christmas preparations, we had almost forgotten about it.
Spent the day at Busch Gardens on Saturday. Very cool place. Rode 4 roller coasters (Gwazi, Scorpion, Kumba, Montu), saw lots of animals, and even got to feed some giraffes. Missed the rhinos though.
What a great place. Can’t wait to go back again. Go check out the photos at the gallery.
Hawaiian shirts
Jay Allen’s entry on hawaiian shirts reminded me of what my friends and I used to do during my undergrad (and graduate) days at U of A.
Our Friday ritual after class was to head up to RATT (Room At The Top), the bar on campus. Usually we’d head up there around noon or so, grab our usual table in the corner and have some lunch and hang out. The guys with afternoon classes would head off, and come back afterwards. Hawaiian shirts (bright and colourful ones) were standard dress on Fridays. Whoever forgot their’s would be the scornpost for the remainder of the night. They made us very identifiable, and very easy to spot in a crowded bar. Also useful as an ice breaker for meeting girls. We became very well known for them. Sometimes, people would pass us by on campus and say “hey, it’s the hawaiian shirt guys!”.
We’d step off the elevator, head to our table and the waitress would meet us there with a couple of pitchers. Food orders would be placed, and the meeting would start.
People would come and go, and come back again. Much fun was had, much schmoozing and lawn mowing was done. Ahh, those were the days 🙂
Christmas preparations
Christmas shopping is finished. Christmas cards are getting sent out. 2 batches of cookies done, 3 or 4 more to go (we get maybe about 250 cookies out of each ‘batch’). People might be getting their cookies a little late this year, but oh well. I’m sure they’ll enjoy them just the same.
Off to go finish off the rest of my cards.
Time for Christmas
The endless loop of Christmas music in my brain has started now, despite having avoided turning on the radio since before Thanksgiving. So I guess this means it’s time for me to start getting ready for Christmas. Dragged the tree out, strung the lights and hung decorations on it. Working on Christmas cards now. And the Christmas baking has begun. Soon just about every available container in our kitchen will be stacked to overflowing with sugar cookies, destined to be shipped off to relatives.
Only a couple more weeks to go…
Blogger evolution
Jeremy Wright has an interesting take on blogger evolution. I think on his scale, I’m somewhere around a familial blogger, although I don’t think too many people have found my blog. I’m still pretty comfortable with what I write here though.