Muscles, Trees, & Holidays...

As the name implies, we have them all. Muscles... OMG I did not know that the human body had so many muscles. We have been working fives classes a week on our TKD and even went through our first belt promotion. We all passed and have our new orange belts. Aren't we just the cutest things? Isaiah is getting so much better. His coordination is improving and he doesn't look like he is going to fall over every time he kicks. I am so proud of him. Whether she wants to admit it or not, even Dawn is looking better and seems to have more energy. He knee prevents her from doing some thing, but she is in there like a trooper and is really hanging tough. I took an XMA (Xtreme Martial Arts) class on Friday and was surrounded by kids. Even though I looked foolish, (I had never actually done a cartwheel before and I do my first just before turning 38) I had a great time. Yesterday, our instructor asked to speak to me after class and when I talked to him, he said he wants to extend an invitation for CIT (Certified Instructor Training) to me and wanted to set up a time to talk about it. How cool is that? Me an instructor. However, being a business I am sure there is some sort of charge for that. I am sure it isn't a free invite, so I may not be able to do it, but just that fact that I got the invite is so cool.

Lets see... what else is happening in the world... Something about trees... There is this park near us that boast about having the senator in it. So, we are all thinking a house or something like that. No, this is called Big Tree Park and has Liberty and the Senator in it. They are trees. Massive trees. The Senator was so huge before the last set of major hurricanes came along and took off the top half of it, that when Florida still have working forts, ships would use that tree as a navigation tool. So, the boy and Dawn went to go look and got a nice picture or two. Also, since we are talking nature, I have to show you guys a picture I have of this place called Devils Pool. This is awesome. It's in Africa and a few month out of the year is moving at just the right speed and has just the right rock formations that you can sit right at the edge and not get pushed over the cliff. Isn't that way cool?



And finally, holidays. As you all know, Mother's day recently came and went. Well, I got Dawn up early in the morning and took her to her favorite spot. Disney. We spent the day there and around 7:30 ended up at the Contemporary hotel for a character dinner at Chef Mickey's It was fun and the food was good. It was a buffet style so wasn't as good as I am use to with Disney restaurants, but it was good. We got pictures with all the different characters, which was a hoot and they even had little special desserts. And sure enough, Dawn goes right for the ears first. You would think she was Mike Tyson or something. But we had a good time.





Other than that, life is going along as it will. Trying to fight rising costs of everything and survive paycheck to paycheck. I am thinking of getting a small motorized bike soon if gas keep up like it is. Sheesh. Anyways all, have a great holiday tomorrow and remember family, we love you all and can't wait to see everyone. Some of you for the first time in Dawn's case and the rest of you, and you know who you are, need to come to Florida and visit sometime. Laters gators.

Ouch my toe...

I call this, "Ouch my toe...," because there is a story here. I only wish that I had had the foresight to actually take a picture. Oh well. So, let us start off by answering a question that was posed by my infamous brother. Okay, now you have to imagine the face and hand movements and the really slow, loud speaking like when stupid people think that talking louder helps talk to a deaf person. Hey Bro... Jeff... he looks like a dog! :)

So, that question answered. Let us talk about toes. So, mine has finally stopped hurting. For several days, it was so purple and red that one look might have given the onlooker the impression that I was going to lose the toe to some weird pest living within, however, it is almost completely healed now. Now I know the question is what the heck happened. So, in the famous words of Indigo Montoya, "Let me explain. No, let me sum up."

A couple of weeks ago, we signed up Isaiah for some exercise. What kind? Tae Kwon Do classes. So a long story short, we are all now taking classes with him at the Victory Acadamy (Go Team Victory) and during one of these sessions, the foot didn't go as high as I wanted it to, the curled back toes didn't quite curl back far enough since the leg wasn't high enough and whack, mangled toes into the bag. OUCH my toe! Four days later and it still isn't fully healed. Oh well, I will probably get many more bruised, bumps and abrasions before all is said and done.

Now, we are happily moving into our third week of classes, Tue, Thur, & Sat. Twice most Tue & Thur, so about 5 times a week. We are having fun and getting great work outs. The only problem is, and someone should have told me, that there are muscles in the human body that hide or suddenly grow when you start exercising. Wow. I have stomach muscles hidden in there somewhere. ~LOL~ Anyways, that is about the extent of the new business so take care all...




Huh? Oh right, can't leave the bro hangin' now can we. Okay, here he is... Here they are... The Jeff and Clyde show. Weeeee.... Take care all and remember, sometimes a peach is just a peach.

Delayed Reaction...

Well, I haven't been here in some time. I realized, when Manders said I needed to post again, that I haven't done so since our trip to Hawaii. So, I figured she was right and I needed to post again. :) So, here it is...

Christmas...

Well, this year was the year of Guitar Hero III and food. Okay, well it wasn't really food, but I did see lots of food packaging, so...




But seriously, we all got things we wanted and had a great time. Dawn with her bath stuff, Isaiah with his games, and me with my dragons. It was a blast all around. :)

January...

Well, dawn got another puppy. This one is is names Jeff and he is a little cutey. Which is probably why the little chew monster isn't beaten daily. Yes, he love cords and anything else he can get in his mouth.



We also have our disney thing that we do every year and other than revamping the Haunted Mansion, its all pretty much the same. And other than that, there isn't a lot going on. We are actually starting planning for the wedding now, so once we have an actual idea, we will let everyone know. Dawn is in Phoenix right now for regionals for her work and I will let her tell everyone about the computer woahs. Other than that it is pretty much been work, home, sleep, work home sleep, that pretty much entails the rest of life. :)

Take care all and have a great one.

Aloha and Mahalo for all the pineapples...

Yes, its me again. Once more back from a fabulous adventure. After all, when else do I post on this thing? Thats right, not unless its exciting. Which, unlike my bro, is not nearly that often. So, as you all know, we were off to Hawaii last week. And it was cool. I have pictures to prove it was. Anyhow, let me relate a little tale of trials, tribulations, and beauty. Oh and lets not forget the gifts we got at the end of every day when someone would break into our room and leave us stuff. Backwards, but cool.


Day 1 : The departure and arrival.

So, its Sunday, the day after we had to drop off Isaiah at the airport after getting up at 4am, get a few last minute purchases, and pack. Not bad, got about 6 hours sleep and was up again at 4am to get ourselves to the airport. Woosh, we are off and running with the first leg from Orlando to Denver. (3 hours) Woosh, we are off again from Denver to LA. (3 hours) Woosh, we are off again from LA to Hawaii. (5 hours) And the pony is looking out the window as we are about to land in Hawaii. Okay, so now get this, we have backtracked in time, like something from the "Time Machine" and have been 11 hours on the plane. Dawn never set her watch so according to FL time, we have now been up for 19 hours when we land at the airport. (Shown Below)

Then, because this is a company trip, they want to have a Beach Bash at 8:30 that night, so after 45 minutes on a bus, we arrive at the hotel. Get checked in, get our complimentary Hawaian shirts, then head off to dinner and such. Needless to say, I was WAY too toasted for pictures that night, but it was okay and we ended up crashing out at about the 25 hour awake mark.

End Day 1 : Gift, Hat, Shirt, Kazoos (For Day 2) and snacks.

Day 2 : Olympics and Shopping

After a nights sleep on a not so pleasant bed, I am starting to think this whole trip is doomed. Rain is in the forecast every day and the reports are that the water is going to be too choppy to do anything in the actual ocean. So, morning rituals taken care of, we head down to the beach to at least look before breakfast. The rain is light and the beach turns out to be breathtaking.

The day starts to look up already and then came breakfast. The pond was amazing and it was literally a foot from our table. (Though we did end up right next to her DM which I thought was amusing and had to snap a picture) The food was wonderful, from the omellets to the fresh pineapple and more. Wow. And then, after breakfast, we wondered back through the open courtyard to our room to get ready for the event of the day and the view inside the hotel was as wonderful as outside. So, off we went to, as they say, let the games begin.

So, after dropping off the lei whcih we got when we landed and only vaguely rememberd the next morning, we wonder off to find our "team" meeting spot for this event when Dawn spots a web, complete with spider. It was awesome. Once we find the team we are supposed to be on and get dressed in our goofy attire, the rain starts up in earnest. We did the games anyway. Kona Coffee Run, shoveling coffee from a pail to a cup via 4 people, the Hula Race, dressing up the various Corp types in flippers, straw hats, glasses, etc and a few more of like games. I even participated in the tug o' war. Got three wins and a couple of losses and a few nice rope burns to boot. And here is everyone in the rain and not caring a bit. It was fun.

So, then it is off to our room just long enough to see a break in the rain and WOW, the view from our balcony is amazing. Needless to say, we spent every morning with a cup of coffee up there first before breakfast and every night there with a drink before bed. Listening to the surf every night while going to bed, made the rock bed almost unnoticable. However, the rain was not to be held back and came on even harder as evening approached. So, then it was off to Lahaina for shopping. It really reminded me of Key West with Hawaian items. However, the oldest Banyan tree in the US was amazing to see. It was HUGE! After a bit of shopping, a very bit and dinner at Bubba Gump Hawaii, it was back to the room for a night before the big excursion the next day. Needless to say, I was having doubt with all the rain, but that is tomorrow...

End Day 2 : Gift, Beach Towels that have Hawaian flowers and the names of all the Islands and flip-flops.

Day 3 : Excursion

So, up again in the morning to a bright sunny day. I am amazed by this as it was perfect since we were going on a hike to a waterfall. I was so proud of Dawn, even though she was scared to the height thing, she repelled down the final cliff and climbed the waterfall with me. I sat in under the fall while we have a picture of both of us standing next to it. It was beautiful. The sun lasted just long enough to get off the hike and ready for the nights Luau. Then, right before the big Luau, which was indoors due to rain, it began to pour and broke just long enough for the fire dancer, but that is for later. Now, pictured of the hike.

Half way up - Dawn, it isn't that high

Me so happy - Told ya I could do it!

Happy Couple - What? Me worry?

HOW much further? - WOW!



And on the ride home, the clouds begin a movin'


Then there was the Luau. Sometimes they brought a bunch of Leslie's employee's on stage with tehm even. It was a hoot. Those dancers are amazing and the pictures just don't do them justice. But here they are anyways with the grand finale - the fire dancer just before the rains really started up and all hell broke loose sometime that night. We also got a professional photo taken with the Hawaian dancer. Will scan and add later, along with more pics from the other waterproof camera.








End of Day 3 : Gift, Really cool carved turtle to represent protection.


Day 4 : Day of no power, so ROAD TRIP!


Yes, you heard it boys and girls, the whole south side of the island is without power due to the prior nights storm activity. So we decided to take the generous donation to our trip made by an annoymous person and rented a car. They don't call the Road to Hana (the drive we decided to take) the most beautiful drive in the US for nothing. WOW. Though, I have to wonder what is up with the broken down junk heaps on the road. There must have been 6 or more of them. Wierd. Even through the rain and flooded roads, it was amazing. We saw the last working sugar plant in Hawaii, drove through the flooded streets and then down the coast to Hana. The pictures say more tha I ever could.



Rain, pouring down - Sugar Mill

Flooded Road - Road starts with fastest trees ever...

Moving on up-Broken Car???

From on High - Pretty Pumpkin

Just... wow....

Clearing the road - Whats with these cars?

We drove that-Hard to see, but 30' waves from the storm


Once we get back, there is power just long enough to take a shower for the dressy awards dinner and then bamph, it is out again. Come to find out it was only on for about an hour or so. I won't bore you with any pictures of the awards dinner, because it was just that, pretty boring. However, Dawn got a tiny surf board with her name engraved on it and the awards club logo and such. It was way nice to hear her name announced as a winner and see it on the video they made of the trip. It was cool. Anyone wanting to see the video once we get it, ask and I will burn copies.


End Day 4 : Gift, Very nice frame for the Luau picture and picture book of Maui.


Day 5 : Waiting for power and plane...


Again, the power is out and it flickers on just long enough for us to take a quick shower and its gone again. Oh well. We wander a bit, then pack and I get the bright idea of sneaking onto the shuttle early for the airport. At least they had power. So, off we go. Now realize, we are on Hawaii time now and we got up at 6am. We hung out at the airport until 9:45 when the plane left and had the same three plane ride home, except the first stop was San Fran instead of LA. So, with the time we got up, the time shift, and the time on the plane, by the time we got home and unpacked, it was a 34 hour day. We were wiped. We slept for 15 hours and now I am writing this, the following day. Weee... Though, the monkey Dawn used for a pillow on the trips did get a bit drunk on the way out of Maui. All and all, it was a great trip. Hope you made it this far. :) Laters all...