It’s Friday and I am totally ready for the weekend, but I have to pack my bags on Sunday because I am attending SHRM Florida’s conference in Orlando to speak about HR & social media.
Have you ever been to Florida? I had one of the worst sunburns of my life during a trip to Marco Island. The sun is so strong and I forgot to put sunscreen on my earlobes and the tops of my feet. [ugh!]
So I want to know:
- Does anyone have a really good story about Florida?
- Good memories?
- Did you fight with your siblings and drive your parents crazy at Disney World?
Give me your stories. Have you been to Cape Canaveral? Did you honeymoon down there? Does anyone have a story from Key West? I loved the Hemingway cats and the roosters that walk around town.
Let’s dream about Florida and forget about our unfulfilling careers.
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
I live in Florida now. I’ll be at HR Florida. Which class is yours? I’ll try to make it.
Glen
I lived in Orlando for two years and were it not for being newly in love, I would have hated it. Everyone who lived there wasn’t from there (including me.) Normally, I love a good melting pot, but this stew is just strange and the people have the weirdest set of priorities. Talk about mediocrity in employment.
Anyway, a mid-westerner who looks people in the eye and smiles is considered the oddball…unless you are at Disney. Speaking of which, don’t waste your time. Universal Studios is better by far. I do miss the year-long, Florida resident’s pass to Sea World, though.
Dude – some of us have fulfiling careers and even lives in Florida.
My Key West story. Kyle and I went down there back in 2000 on Labor Day. The Hilton told me “no rooms” and I used my then the Platinum status to get leveraged into guaranteed availability. We wound up in a massive three room suite for free on Hilton Honors. We each had our own bathroom, with an extra left over for guests.
We had a great time, except the sunburn and the slightly used condom that I sat on for a while in a lounger by the pool.
We bought one drink at the swim up pool bar and then I kept taking our “go cups” up to our enormous sweet to mix hefty but cheap margaritas.
Ahh, Florida…it’s like that here all the time! (not)
Tweetup at HR FLorida: http://hrfloridatweetup.eventbrite.com/
Blogger panel with me and Laurie:
http://www.hrflorida.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=159
I’ve been twice on family related outings and I generally have good feelings towards Florida. Though I don’t think I could live there because alligators freak me out. Nothing with legs that stubby should be able to move that fast on land! It’s just wrong.
Oh boy, every year we have a full family vacation and since my brother lives in Naples we head down to Florida. We actually just got back from Florida a couple of weeks ago and we were on Treasure Island in the Tampa area. I love the Tampa area, but I have to say that I could never live in Florida. For some reason we decide to go down there in August the hottest time of the year and I sweat like it’s my job. One place that I highly recommend eating at is 5 Guys Burgers and Fries. I’ve never had a better burger in my life. Anywho, last year we went to Disney World and Sea World on the days that the news said were the hottest of the year in Florida, what a mistake. We stayed for 14 hours at each place and my clothes were soaked and completely uncomfortable by the time it was all said and done and everyone was at each other’s throats. I like Florida, but summer is definitely not the time to be there. Have a good time at the conference!
My memories of Florida in August? AC turned way, way up. Sleeping late under a bunch of down comforters and afghans. Hot cocoa. Warm chicken noodle soup. Lots of old movies. Snuggled up with a good book. Ahhh.
Hermetism at its best.
Until it was time to go food shopping.
I got engaged at a shuttle launch at the cape 2 years ago in August. I was so excited but some of the things that really stick out in my mind about that day is how hot and smelly it was! The Banana River is stinky that time of year. Then we tried to honeymoon in Key West the next year and got evacuated 3 days into it because of Hurricane Ivan. Despite that though I had some of the best food and drinks in my short time there – can’t wait to go back!! Oh yeah and if you drive through FL beware of the every mile emergancy telephones, while I appreciate that they are there, I really feel as though they are taunting me about how long and boring the drive is!
Ahhh Florida, I can’t wait to go back!
Aren’t Hemingway’s cats the ones with extra toes?
I have so many Florida stories from just one trip, but I will just share two here:
1) We went to DisneyWorld and were waiting in one of the outrageously long lines. My mom was trying to be funny and said, “I know why it takes so long for these lines…once you finish this ride, it automatically funnels you into the roller coaster ride.” The group standing behind us said “is that true?” I heard my brother (who was 18 at the time) turn around and say something to them, but I didn’t hear exactly what he said. A few minutes later we turned around and that couple was gone. Apparently, he said “No, it’s not true. Just ignore her. We just took her out of the mental hospital for the weekend and she sometimes experiences these dillusions. It’s not a big deal, though….much easier to deal with than the voices that tell her to do things…” Good times!!!
2) My brother had just graduated from high school the week before that trip and my dad told him he no longer had a midnight curfew. My mom was appalled that he would start that new rule while we were out of town…but my dad said he trusted him. So, my brother went out to find a club to go to and when he hadn’t returned by 2am my mom was freaking out. So, my dad took off to see if he could find him, and he did. My brother was judging a “best body on the beach” contest at a bar. Dad walked up to him and said “Do you know what a phone is?” but since the club was really loud, my brother thought he said “Do you know WHERE a phone is?” So, my brother said “Yeah, there’s one right over there.” I don’t know EXACTLY what happened next, but I can tell you it was a VERY quiet trip home.
Oh…one more….they actually stopped the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, escorted us out, and asked us not to return after my brother and I started a splashing war halfway through the ride (and we were only getting each other wet…no one else).
I was like really?! It’s water, dudes, not battery acid.
When I was about 14 we flew down for the mandatory Disney experience, and on our flight we got to watch and listen to the night launch of a Titan rocket carrying a satelite, right from the comfort our DC-9. It was very cool.
Since I’m a Floridian, most of my stories are well, from Florida.
I will however disclose that I have been involved with several Federal Agencies on trips to the Florida Keys (The Marine Patrol, Customs, The United States Coast Guard) on at least 3 occasions, and bikers (the infamous Poker Run).
Needless to say, the next major bachelor party trip with my degenerate Fraternity Brothers will be in Vegas.
I once had a 3 week training session in Ft. Lauderdale. Days were filled with instruction. But it was a lovely, evening in August and a fellow Chicagoan and I were just “lolling” in the shallow water at the end of the day having a nice conversation. We noticed people on the beach motioning and yelling at us. No one else was in the water – for a reason. We were told that at night, the sharks came in to feed on the garbage left in the water all day. Who knew? Lake Michigan doesn’t have sharks. Lake Michigan is so cold – even in August – your shins would freeze solid if you “lolled” in the water.
Laurie – don’t go swimming in the Atlantic at night.
I have to way in with Michael, being a long time resident of Florida. I grew up sailing and skiing on the weekends, with sand dunes and fresh salt air. I can’t complain–it has been a wonderful place to live and work, but I would agree that the heat of summer is not our best time of year. I hope that everyone coming to Orlando has a really great time!
Florida the site of numerous family vacations and many great memories.
December 1993 – Tampa/St Pete area. Everyone told me it was not far enough south to be in the water. Wrong!!! Record high temperatures and pictures of me in the water on New Year’s Eve.
January 1996 – Key Largo. Figuring I couldn’t be so lucky to catch record high temperatures again we chose Key Largo. This time it was record lows!!!! Couldn’t pass up the snorkeling opportunity, but I’ll have to think twice before getting in the water when the water is warmer than the air. I can still feel the chill from getting out – BBRRRRRRR.
Huge fan of the Everglades – beautiful and totally wild.
LOVE Disneyworld! We bought our tix to the Magic Kingdom in advance, and they had NO record of our purchase when we got there. Since we had our receipt and didn’t act like total a-holes, they let us into the park and gave us a park hopper pass for free. When we got home, a check from Disneyworld (full refund) was waiting for us.
Awesome.
I went to Florida (Orlando area) with my best friend at the time. We were both 15 or 16, and stayed with her cousins. We went to Disney, met Mickey and all that stuff. At night, we sat on the screened in porch and watched the thunderstorms (they lived on a golf course) while drinking beer.
I also had my first buffalo wings ever during that trip – at Hooters! Buffalo hot sauce is very painful on sunburned lips, that’s for sure.
While you’re in Orlando – two stops you should try (if you get the time)…
The Wine Room & Luma (Both located in Winterpark)
Fly safe,
Ida.
@Glen We’re talking about blogging at 9AM on Monday. That’s early for a blogger like me.
@HR Instinct I don’t do amusement parks. I hate germs and I hate people. Not a good mix.
@Mike You need to get a job with the Chamber of Commerce.
@Minion My cat, Lucy, has stubby legs but moves pretty quickly. She has the cranky personality of an alligator, too. [[SNAP. BITE.]]
@Reviewsnap That vacation sucks. Thanks but no thanks, I’ll go to Wisconsin Dells on my next vacation.
@Daisycutter Humidity. Hate it.
@Charity Whoa, you’re about as sentimental as a heart attack. “Florida — it’s not Charity’s first choice for a vacation, but it will do.”
@Lisa Yup, polydactyl.
@Breanne OMG, dude, those stories. Hilarious. Also, you are made to live in Florida.
@Puf Whoa, that’s totally cool. I went to Disney when I was 7. I barely remember it.
@John What happens in Florida stays in Florida.
@Sue I didn’t know you’re from Chicago. Me, too! I won’t go swimming at night. I promise.
@cbrancheau Thanks
@HR Mark I’ve been to Key Largo but I can’t imagine snorkeling when it’s so chilly. Brrrrrrrr is right!
@AiryMary Ken and I did a quick tour of the Everglades back in 1998. It was beautiful but the tour guides were so depressing. Global warming, pollution, salt water, etc. We were like, “Whoa, this sucks.”
@MeredithElaine Classy Orlando visit. Love it.
@Ida Thanks for the recommendation!
Speaking of Florida sunburn… I was in college in Ohio drove down to Florida for spring break in my buddy’s convertable. Drove from Tampa to Lauderdale with the top down. No sunscreen. By the time we got to Lauderdale I had blisters on my forehead, cheeks and forearms. Heck we hadn’t seen the sun in Ohio for about 6 months. In any event I got up in the morning put zinc oxide all over my sun blistered body parts and still went to the beach. I looked like some kind whacko sun warrior. Ridiculous!
Speaking of Florida sunburn… I was in college in Ohio drove down to Florida for spring break in my buddy’s convertable. Drove from Tampa to Lauderdale with the top down. No sunscreen. By the time we got to Lauderdale I had blisters on my forehead, cheeks and forearms. Heck we hadn’t seen the sun in Ohio for about 6 months. In any event I got up in the morning put zinc oxide all over my sun blistered body parts and still went to the beach. I looked like some kind whacko sun warrior. Ridiculous!
Ooops, should have added great post! Waiting for your next one!
@Bill You are a machine. That’s a tremendous amount of sun — keep checking yourself for melanoma. Dangerous!