Katie's Birthday and The Weekend So Far

Friday, from 5 to 7 pm, ten of my nineteen soccer girls practiced in 47 degree, misty conditions for two hours, and then it was hop in the JEEP and head to Chiefland for Junior's basketball game.
According to the schedule, I should have arrived at the gym just as the varsity boys game was starting, but other previous games had stalled and delayed his game.

I was relieved at that news as it meant I could hit Mcstarbucks for some pretty decent coffee and a chance to just chill for 30 minutes or so.

When I pulled up to McD, the bike and bike trailer below was parked directly in front of me.

Confession: At first, I thought that said "BikiniDon" and actually texted a friend that. I thought that blonde underwear wearing, guitar playing, singing Cowboy dude was in McD's ... although, a damp 47 degree night did not seem conducive to that form of dress ... even in Florida.


So, it turned out to be "BikinDon" not "Thong Don" or whatever someone in underwear only might call themselves as they desperately seek attention.
Anyway ... That is BikinDon with his back to us.

I landed in a booth next to him and since he was talking on the phone, I got an ear full. It sounded like he was warming up and updating friends as he made a bunch of calls. I sipped my coffee and watched as students and former students of mine filtered in and out, grabbing their fries and burgers, or just hanging out. I had forgotten how busy a fastfood joint can be on a Friday night.

At some point, with my coffee almost gone, and a basketball game to get to, I heard BikinDon tell someone on the phone that he was going to continue biking that evening and try to make Lebanon Station.

It was windy, cold, and wet outside and Lebanon Station was another 20 miles through forest and swamp. I had already garnered via his phone call conversation that he just camped along the side of the road when he was ready to stop.

I stood up to go and spoke to him, telling him that he might want to set his sights on the Waccasassa River bridge near Gulf Hammock if he wanted a good spot to spend the night. It wasn't too far from his goal, and there was a vacant old house right next to the bridge. He could pull around behind to get out of the wind and out of sight of the highway.
Just a thought...

He liked that idea and found it on his folded, well worn map.

I wished him luck and went off to my son's game.



This game went like the last few had, our guys played hard, but the other team played better. When it was over, I went home and crashed, until Bear awoke me predawn for a walk.

After a cup of coffee, I woke Junior up and we loaded "Tyrion" the fair pig for her registration and ear tagging. It was raining and cold, but it went pretty smoothly and we managed to do the job with minimal stress for her. We rigged a tarp over the front of the trailer to block the wind.

I tied the tarp on the passenger side of the trailer, Junior tied the tarp on the driver side.

After about 4 miles, his side was loose and flapping in the wind.

"Way to tie those knots, NonBoyscout."

I guess we will have to have a knot tying lesson. (For the record, I was never a scout)

After we returned the pig to her home pen, I went inside to check on you bloggers for a little while and try to get a post up.

I was sitting right here, like I am now, when the clothes dryer made loud thump.
"The dryer isn't turning" said the laundress of the moment.

I popped the top off and sure enough, the belt had broken.

DANG IT!

No store locally carried the part, but a store in Gainesville had a bunch ... 40 miles away.

Oh well, I had to go there anyway much later in the day for Katie's 22nd birthday. I cleaned up quick and zipped off to the big city in a hurry since they closed early on Saturday.

Once I had my part, I killed time in Books A Million and a few other stores, trying to avoid the Christmas shopping hordes and traffic.
I'm buying almost everything online this year and I am LOVING it.

Eventually, it was time to celebrate the birthday girl, so I headed to one of the local Japanese Steak Houses ... her choice.

The first and last time I ate at one of these was when I lived in Savannah, before I had kids. That should convey how I feel about them.
I believe cooking should happen in the restaurant kitchen. Also, I do not want to sit with strangers or have the chef two feet in front of me throwing eggs and knives around ... even if he was a funny guy.

Plus, if your seasoning repertoire consists of sugar, salt, and soy ... well, I can do better.

That's not to say it wasn't a fun dinner, we had a very good time.



Here are my spawn and I poised next to the koi pond at the restaurant. The birthday girl is next to me.
Just for the record, today is Katie's actual birthday.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETIE!
Among other things, we gave her a copy of "The MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL" movie. She was thrilled. She texted me later that evening and told me she was watching it already.
That's my girl. Muppets rule.



I was a little (alot) distracted by the koi. They were huge! The small ones in this picture are six to eight inches long.

Today, the birthday girl and her beau, Conner, are off to Disneyworld. She gets in free on her birthday, and as a future teacher, she knows the value of a bargain.

I will be going to Dryerworld in a few minutes. The laundry is starting to pile up.

If you read this far, that is the weekend at Pure Florida so far ...


Oh one more thing, we didn't do the usual cake with candles, blow out the candles, make a wish sorta thing, so we substituted a gong strike, or two, or three, or four ... I was afraid the manager might come kick us off the premises.

You go girl!