Hawaiian Santa in Fort Myers.
This is how some people down here chose to celebrate the season!
Nothing says Christmas quite like lights on a palm tree in 80 degree weather!
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to all from Sunny Florida!!
Hawaiian Santa in Fort Myers.
This is how some people down here chose to celebrate the season!
Nothing says Christmas quite like lights on a palm tree in 80 degree weather!
Hawaiian Santa in Fort Myers.
This is how some people down here chose to celebrate the season!
Nothing says Christmas quite like lights on a palm tree in 80 degree weather!
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
He did it! Grant graduated!
Grant and I had a great time visiting family and friends in Fort Myers over the weekend. It was a joy to see Grant walk across the stage at his graduation. I am so proud of the perseverance he displayed through three different schools in 2 different cities culminating with his graduation on Saturday. We were joined in celebration by my Aunt Diane, Grant’s parents and both sets of his grandparents. I feel that we have looked towards this event for so long. The end of college. The end of long distance. The beginning of so much more. In a way, we have made it together. We are now starting our lives together.
Not only did Grant graduate, but we are now moved into our first home! With the generous help of my brothers and the use of my mom’s minivan, we have moved almost all of our things into our apartment. I never realized how much stuff we had and how much we still need! We are slowly unpacking and making our place a home. The first thing Grant unpacked was our television, which had been previously used as a Christmas card stand by his parents. (We kept the box and can bring it back if you still need it!!) I continued to unpack our wedding gifts and other necessities. We are looking forward to having our HD cable installed this week and experiencing football in a whole new way! Our mattresses and sofa were delivered this week and our bedroom furniture should come in a couple of weeks. It is so nice see each other each and every day. Since we spent so much time apart we really know how lucky we are!
Have a Merry Christmas!
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Moving Day
Today is the day. Grant and I get our keys to our first place together at 2PM. I am so excited! We will only be able to move in a few things today and will do more tomorrow and Sunday after we return from our trip to Fort Myers this weekend for Grant's graduation. Slowly our furniture will be delivered and we will begin to really make our new place a home!
It is just amazing to have Grant back with me. I have missed him so much! We are enjoying every moment together! The little things are the most special though. On Tuesday night we watched a movie, last night we made dinner together. I just love seeing him when I get home from work each and every day!
Grant had a great homecoming weekend. We went to see "Blood Diamond" on Friday, went shopping on Saturday and went to the Jags game on Sunday. Here is a photo of us at last week's AMAZING Jaguars game against Peyton Manning and the Colts!
It is just amazing to have Grant back with me. I have missed him so much! We are enjoying every moment together! The little things are the most special though. On Tuesday night we watched a movie, last night we made dinner together. I just love seeing him when I get home from work each and every day!
Grant had a great homecoming weekend. We went to see "Blood Diamond" on Friday, went shopping on Saturday and went to the Jags game on Sunday. Here is a photo of us at last week's AMAZING Jaguars game against Peyton Manning and the Colts!
Thursday, December 07, 2006
He's Coming!
Grant is coming! Yesterday, Grant took his last exams at FGCU. Today, Grant is packing all of his things. Tomorrow, Grant is moving to Jacksonville! I am so excited! We move into our new place a week from tomorrow and Grant graduates a week from Saturday. Everything is coming together and we are looking forward to being a real married couple…no longer separated by 6 hours of highway and no direct flights.
So far the only things we’ve gotten for our first home is a bedroom set, end tables and a coffee table and the fabulous television that Grant got on Black Friday. We still need so much. Everything from a dining room set to couches to mattresses and whatever we want to put in the second bedroom. This weekend we will try to find those essentials for our move in on the 15th – which I cannot believe is close to a week away!!
So far the only things we’ve gotten for our first home is a bedroom set, end tables and a coffee table and the fabulous television that Grant got on Black Friday. We still need so much. Everything from a dining room set to couches to mattresses and whatever we want to put in the second bedroom. This weekend we will try to find those essentials for our move in on the 15th – which I cannot believe is close to a week away!!
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Our New Place!
Last week was a big week for Grant and I. We got approved for our first home! We will be renting a condo close to my parents, to my office and hopefully close to wherever Grant ends up working! I am so excited!! Our new place is a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom condo with great amenities. We are expecting lots of visitors!!
Since we now have a place and a move in date – December 15, we needed to start looking for furniture. Grant did his part in getting the new fabulous television and I was able to get a good deal on our bedroom set on Black Friday. The only bad part is that it won’t be delivered until January 5. We still need to get living room furniture, a dining room table, furniture for our guest room/office and mattresses. Looks like we have a lot of shopping to do!! =)
I cannot wait to unpack our wedding gifts and settle down in our new place. Most of all, I cannot wait to have Grant here with me. I miss him so so so much! Today is our 6 month wedding anniversary! Grant sent me a dozen pink, white and red roses to my office. He is the BEST!
Friday, November 24, 2006
Black Friday Fun!
Grant posting here... yeah, I know been awhile.
Black Friday really starts Thursday and here's my story. Thanks to a post over on Duck Notes that listed two websites on Black Friday deals, Becky was able to get a head start on the deals that would be available. One stood out to her and she suggested that I try to purchase the item. The special deal was going on at Best Buy and there was a minimum of 5. This item wasn't in the newspaper ad but was only shown on their website.
Since the item wasn't in the newspaper ad, I figured this would improve my chances of getting one. I contemplated as to how early I should arrive at the store as I know people start lining up fairly early. At first 3AM sounded good with the store opening at 5AM. However, during my wonderful 11hr Thanksgiving shift at the restaurant I thought about how awesome this item will be for Becky and I just as we are about to move into our own first place together. I chose to head up to the store after work. At 9:45PM, as Becky is getting ready to go to sleep herself, I headed to the store thinking an hour or two nap in the car would be nice before people start showing up.
How WRONG was I... I pulled into the plaza and notice quite a few cars in front of Best Buy and a radio and news van there. I parked the car and started walking towards the building. At first you would have never guessed it was the line to the store, but more of a line to get into a not so trendy bar minus the alcohol, to an extent. There was karaoke and line dancing for most of the night and early morning. Unfortunately, my spot in line was far from the front of the doors and past much of the dancing. At 10PM I found myself on the side of the building about the #119th person in line. Best Buy has two more stores to its left, which the line passes to give you an idea of how long the line actually was. Of course it was longer then needed to be because people had tents, chairs, coolers, sports equipment, grills, and yes karaoke gear.
I was able to get to know my neighbors in line pretty quickly. They were all fun to hang out with for the night. Two guys about 4 people in front of me drank 24 coronas and some cans of miller light while they waited. There were a few guys behind me also drinking. I would of never thought of people drinking in a line to go into a retail store.
One of the gentlemen in front of me was there for the same thing I was. Having just over a hundred people in front of me and assuming they'd probably only have five of these items I was a little worried that my time in line maybe wasted especially with the guy in front of me going for one. I talked to Becky on the phone briefly and then she went to bed. Although, she told me before going out there she would keep me company on the phone while I was out there but she didn't last long. During our conversation she felt as well that my chances were slim in accomplishing the goal. I figured at this point I would stick it out. The few other people in front of me were going for laptops and also computer monitors and other small stuff.
The police drove by every so often although there was no real trouble and of course they had to make fun of every one waiting in line for hours through out the night. During the night as every one sat in the grass in their chairs, tents, and sleeping bags we watched as the sprinklers begin to go off across the street. People then began to joke that our section is next and glanced around to where the sprinklers were but no one took it seriously. Well maybe they should have because around 2AM sure enough the sprinklers came up from the ground near the street and begin spraying everyone. Luckily, I didn't bring anything with me and I was able to get out into the street with without getting soaked. On the other hand, the people sleeping on blankets in the grass or lounging in their chairs or even the people that just so happened to be standing in front of the sprinkler got drenched and all their belongings did as well. It was quite funny actually, and most people laughed at it. We all joked about them doing it on purpose and taping but no video tape has surfaced yet. The temperature wasn't too bad starting off but as 3:30AM approached I was getting pretty cold. Only having the basic jeans and jacket on along with just standing around didn’t help the dropping temperatures.
A long awaited site around 3:30AM, the employees began arriving. This meant the opening of the doors and handing out of tickets! Since I had never done this before I was unsure what these tickets were, but it was explained to me a little earlier in the night that at 4AM employees would come down the line of people and ask if you're purchasing in a category (phone activation, TV’s, laptop, desktop, etc.). Some items which they had limited quantity of were the ticketed items. This way people wouldn’t have to run over the person in front of them and the people that were there first got the item they really wanted. Now with the employees showing up people started to get antsy and begin to rise and clean up their camping site. After most of the tents, chairs, blankets and other stuff were put away the line got noticeably shorter but not with less people, just less distance between people. I was now on the corner of the end building.
Finally 4AM! The moment of truth, I will finally find out if I've wasted hours of sleep or if I will praised by Becky (yeah right...). As I had waited hours in line on the side of a Best Buy, I realized that there was just a little more time left as the ticket people came down the line. You too will have to wait a little longer for the result of the item I was going after. Some categories go past and the guy with laptops gets to our area. Two of the laptop deals were gone. One was a laptop for $250 and another for around $375. One of the guys in front of me was disappointed but took a ticket for a more expensive laptop instead $599. I am not sure if he decided to get it or not. The lady in front of me was pretty upset as she was going for one of the $250 laptops. She took a ticket for a desktop computer for $3 or 4 hundred and something. It was about 4:30AM now she was contemplating whether to get the desktop or not. She decided she didn’t want to spend that much on a computer since all she does is purchase airline tickets and emails friends. Her computer before broke on her, she described the problem but nothing I could explain to her how to fix there in the line. She then left... I was pretty surprised when she walked away empty-handed after all those hours. As an older lady she probably didn't enjoy the over night wait as much as some of us younger guys did that were there. I felt kind of bad but there was nothing I could do and it's just the luck of the draw to an extent plus you know this when entering a line that is more then a hundred people long.
After this I began to worry. I would soon be in the same place since I was only there really for this one item. Once the people around us noticed she left they talked about how bad that would suck. I agreed but I said even if I don't get what I want I'm still going to take a walk around the store for fun. Also while they were handing out tickets they also were handing out maps of the store. They roped off one end to some of the aisle and created one main loop around the store which had one aisle branching off into individual departments.
Best Buy had some employees out watching the line and I guess some one asked them how many of a certain item they had and it got back to us as 8. I know the guy in front of me taking one so now there are 7 and there are about 118 people in front of me. At this point, I convinced myself I probably wouldn't get it just so the drive home wouldn't be so bad. I heard the guy call out the category I was waiting for he's only a few people in front of me as he hands out a few tickets to them. As he came to the guy in front of me I watched as I knew he was getting the same thing. He had the paper ad in his hand and was trying to get tickets to several items. Their was a similar item to the one I was going for that was in the ad but different brand. The ticket guy was confused as there wasn't tickets to the one in the ad and it took him some time to realize it. Meanwhile I'm standing there looking at the book as he flipped around trying to see if there was more then one of the tickets I needed. Finally, he was giving the guy in front of me the ticket I was looking for. As he pulled it out of the binder I see another ticket behind it! I was relieved but I wanted that ticket in my hand as soon as possible. The guy and his girlfriend continue to ask questions about other stuff, it felt like for at least 10 minutes. It was now my turn and I had got my ticket! At this point I could care less about anything else. I was guaranteed this item that I had waited 7 hours for.
Before we get to the actual item let me just say when they opened the doors and started letting people flood it was crazy. They had news cameras at the front of the door and people from the press. The media had people inside of the store facing the front doors to get shots of the people running in. It was a sight to see and felt like something from the movies as being part of the heard going into the store.
Of course I purchased my ticket item and they told me I have to drive around to the back of the store to pick it up. I got into the car and turn the key...nothing. I left the lights on. This night I had taken my father's truck which doesn’t have automatic lights. I made call home and my father was on his way to get me. We picked up the item in his truck and went home. I went to sleep shortly after taking my item inside.
What is the item that would cause a person to put them through so much you might ask? Well it's a Panasonic 42" Plasma HDTV.
It was more fun then I had thought it would be, but I don't know if I'd do it again. Next year is Becky’s turn.
Black Friday really starts Thursday and here's my story. Thanks to a post over on Duck Notes that listed two websites on Black Friday deals, Becky was able to get a head start on the deals that would be available. One stood out to her and she suggested that I try to purchase the item. The special deal was going on at Best Buy and there was a minimum of 5. This item wasn't in the newspaper ad but was only shown on their website.
Since the item wasn't in the newspaper ad, I figured this would improve my chances of getting one. I contemplated as to how early I should arrive at the store as I know people start lining up fairly early. At first 3AM sounded good with the store opening at 5AM. However, during my wonderful 11hr Thanksgiving shift at the restaurant I thought about how awesome this item will be for Becky and I just as we are about to move into our own first place together. I chose to head up to the store after work. At 9:45PM, as Becky is getting ready to go to sleep herself, I headed to the store thinking an hour or two nap in the car would be nice before people start showing up.
How WRONG was I... I pulled into the plaza and notice quite a few cars in front of Best Buy and a radio and news van there. I parked the car and started walking towards the building. At first you would have never guessed it was the line to the store, but more of a line to get into a not so trendy bar minus the alcohol, to an extent. There was karaoke and line dancing for most of the night and early morning. Unfortunately, my spot in line was far from the front of the doors and past much of the dancing. At 10PM I found myself on the side of the building about the #119th person in line. Best Buy has two more stores to its left, which the line passes to give you an idea of how long the line actually was. Of course it was longer then needed to be because people had tents, chairs, coolers, sports equipment, grills, and yes karaoke gear.
I was able to get to know my neighbors in line pretty quickly. They were all fun to hang out with for the night. Two guys about 4 people in front of me drank 24 coronas and some cans of miller light while they waited. There were a few guys behind me also drinking. I would of never thought of people drinking in a line to go into a retail store.
One of the gentlemen in front of me was there for the same thing I was. Having just over a hundred people in front of me and assuming they'd probably only have five of these items I was a little worried that my time in line maybe wasted especially with the guy in front of me going for one. I talked to Becky on the phone briefly and then she went to bed. Although, she told me before going out there she would keep me company on the phone while I was out there but she didn't last long. During our conversation she felt as well that my chances were slim in accomplishing the goal. I figured at this point I would stick it out. The few other people in front of me were going for laptops and also computer monitors and other small stuff.
The police drove by every so often although there was no real trouble and of course they had to make fun of every one waiting in line for hours through out the night. During the night as every one sat in the grass in their chairs, tents, and sleeping bags we watched as the sprinklers begin to go off across the street. People then began to joke that our section is next and glanced around to where the sprinklers were but no one took it seriously. Well maybe they should have because around 2AM sure enough the sprinklers came up from the ground near the street and begin spraying everyone. Luckily, I didn't bring anything with me and I was able to get out into the street with without getting soaked. On the other hand, the people sleeping on blankets in the grass or lounging in their chairs or even the people that just so happened to be standing in front of the sprinkler got drenched and all their belongings did as well. It was quite funny actually, and most people laughed at it. We all joked about them doing it on purpose and taping but no video tape has surfaced yet. The temperature wasn't too bad starting off but as 3:30AM approached I was getting pretty cold. Only having the basic jeans and jacket on along with just standing around didn’t help the dropping temperatures.
A long awaited site around 3:30AM, the employees began arriving. This meant the opening of the doors and handing out of tickets! Since I had never done this before I was unsure what these tickets were, but it was explained to me a little earlier in the night that at 4AM employees would come down the line of people and ask if you're purchasing in a category (phone activation, TV’s, laptop, desktop, etc.). Some items which they had limited quantity of were the ticketed items. This way people wouldn’t have to run over the person in front of them and the people that were there first got the item they really wanted. Now with the employees showing up people started to get antsy and begin to rise and clean up their camping site. After most of the tents, chairs, blankets and other stuff were put away the line got noticeably shorter but not with less people, just less distance between people. I was now on the corner of the end building.
Finally 4AM! The moment of truth, I will finally find out if I've wasted hours of sleep or if I will praised by Becky (yeah right...). As I had waited hours in line on the side of a Best Buy, I realized that there was just a little more time left as the ticket people came down the line. You too will have to wait a little longer for the result of the item I was going after. Some categories go past and the guy with laptops gets to our area. Two of the laptop deals were gone. One was a laptop for $250 and another for around $375. One of the guys in front of me was disappointed but took a ticket for a more expensive laptop instead $599. I am not sure if he decided to get it or not. The lady in front of me was pretty upset as she was going for one of the $250 laptops. She took a ticket for a desktop computer for $3 or 4 hundred and something. It was about 4:30AM now she was contemplating whether to get the desktop or not. She decided she didn’t want to spend that much on a computer since all she does is purchase airline tickets and emails friends. Her computer before broke on her, she described the problem but nothing I could explain to her how to fix there in the line. She then left... I was pretty surprised when she walked away empty-handed after all those hours. As an older lady she probably didn't enjoy the over night wait as much as some of us younger guys did that were there. I felt kind of bad but there was nothing I could do and it's just the luck of the draw to an extent plus you know this when entering a line that is more then a hundred people long.
After this I began to worry. I would soon be in the same place since I was only there really for this one item. Once the people around us noticed she left they talked about how bad that would suck. I agreed but I said even if I don't get what I want I'm still going to take a walk around the store for fun. Also while they were handing out tickets they also were handing out maps of the store. They roped off one end to some of the aisle and created one main loop around the store which had one aisle branching off into individual departments.
Best Buy had some employees out watching the line and I guess some one asked them how many of a certain item they had and it got back to us as 8. I know the guy in front of me taking one so now there are 7 and there are about 118 people in front of me. At this point, I convinced myself I probably wouldn't get it just so the drive home wouldn't be so bad. I heard the guy call out the category I was waiting for he's only a few people in front of me as he hands out a few tickets to them. As he came to the guy in front of me I watched as I knew he was getting the same thing. He had the paper ad in his hand and was trying to get tickets to several items. Their was a similar item to the one I was going for that was in the ad but different brand. The ticket guy was confused as there wasn't tickets to the one in the ad and it took him some time to realize it. Meanwhile I'm standing there looking at the book as he flipped around trying to see if there was more then one of the tickets I needed. Finally, he was giving the guy in front of me the ticket I was looking for. As he pulled it out of the binder I see another ticket behind it! I was relieved but I wanted that ticket in my hand as soon as possible. The guy and his girlfriend continue to ask questions about other stuff, it felt like for at least 10 minutes. It was now my turn and I had got my ticket! At this point I could care less about anything else. I was guaranteed this item that I had waited 7 hours for.
Before we get to the actual item let me just say when they opened the doors and started letting people flood it was crazy. They had news cameras at the front of the door and people from the press. The media had people inside of the store facing the front doors to get shots of the people running in. It was a sight to see and felt like something from the movies as being part of the heard going into the store.
Of course I purchased my ticket item and they told me I have to drive around to the back of the store to pick it up. I got into the car and turn the key...nothing. I left the lights on. This night I had taken my father's truck which doesn’t have automatic lights. I made call home and my father was on his way to get me. We picked up the item in his truck and went home. I went to sleep shortly after taking my item inside.
What is the item that would cause a person to put them through so much you might ask? Well it's a Panasonic 42" Plasma HDTV.
It was more fun then I had thought it would be, but I don't know if I'd do it again. Next year is Becky’s turn.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
D.C. and Virginia
Time is going by so quickly. It feels like Grant and I got married just yesterday! This past weekend we traveled to Washington D.C. and Virginia to visit some friends and go to Grant’s friend Dan’s wedding. The weather was perfect and we had a blast!
We met at the Baltimore airport on Thursday evening and drove to our friend Danielle’s place just outside D.C. It was so exciting to see the Capitol building, Washington Monument and Pentagon as we were driving! We had a bit to catch up and then went to bed.
The next day we had 10A tickets to go to the top of the Washington Monument and 1P tickets to the special exhibit at the Holocaust Museum. We managed to see the White House in between and meet another friend for lunch. I hadn’t been to D.C. since I was in elementary school – so it was quite fun going back and really taking as much of it in as possible. Grant and I cannot wait to go back again and spend more time in D.C.
We had to leave D.C. at 3P on Friday to drive down to Midlothian, Virginia for Dan’s rehearsal dinner. We arrived a little late after sitting in hours of traffic, but it all worked out fine. It was nice to see Dan, his new wife Kendall and some of Grant’s other friends from high school.
The next day we had some time to visit Richmond before the 4P wedding. We went to Maymont Park and drove around downtown Richmond. It was beautiful! All of the Fall leaves were out and the weather was perfect!
That night we went to the wedding, but were sure to pop into the bar next door to check on our Gators. We were quite relieved when they blocked a last minute game winning field goal to secure the win.
On Sunday, we made our way back to Baltimore airport. We arrived there pretty early and had enough time to watch a movie at the gate. It was so hard to say goodbye to Grant, even though I knew this would be the last time we would see each other before his graduation in December – and when he moves to Jacksonville to be with me forever. I cannot wait until we can really start our lives together. =)
We met at the Baltimore airport on Thursday evening and drove to our friend Danielle’s place just outside D.C. It was so exciting to see the Capitol building, Washington Monument and Pentagon as we were driving! We had a bit to catch up and then went to bed.
The next day we had 10A tickets to go to the top of the Washington Monument and 1P tickets to the special exhibit at the Holocaust Museum. We managed to see the White House in between and meet another friend for lunch. I hadn’t been to D.C. since I was in elementary school – so it was quite fun going back and really taking as much of it in as possible. Grant and I cannot wait to go back again and spend more time in D.C.We had to leave D.C. at 3P on Friday to drive down to Midlothian, Virginia for Dan’s rehearsal dinner. We arrived a little late after sitting in hours of traffic, but it all worked out fine. It was nice to see Dan, his new wife Kendall and some of Grant’s other friends from high school.
The next day we had some time to visit Richmond before the 4P wedding. We went to Maymont Park and drove around downtown Richmond. It was beautiful! All of the Fall leaves were out and the weather was perfect!
That night we went to the wedding, but were sure to pop into the bar next door to check on our Gators. We were quite relieved when they blocked a last minute game winning field goal to secure the win.
On Sunday, we made our way back to Baltimore airport. We arrived there pretty early and had enough time to watch a movie at the gate. It was so hard to say goodbye to Grant, even though I knew this would be the last time we would see each other before his graduation in December – and when he moves to Jacksonville to be with me forever. I cannot wait until we can really start our lives together. =)
Friday, November 03, 2006
Vegas...again!
Grant and I recently went to Las Vegas for a 4th time, I believe. (I am starting to lose track!) We had a great time!!
We met up with our good friends Jordan and Ryan and stayed at the most fabulous hotel – The Bellagio!
The flights out there were long, but well worth it! I was so excited to see Grant and visit Las Vegas for the first time since our Honeymoon in May/June. I decided to give Grant an early graduation gift – some money to gamble with. I tried to learn Craps, but was not very successful. However, Jordan was quite successful for her first time visiting Vegas. She won almost $400 on the quarter slots at our hotel!! We were all very excited for her win!!
Grant and I were able to spend some quality time together visiting various hotels on the strip. We went to the Wynn and watched the roulette table and saw a girl come and put $1500 on red. The wheel spun and she won! She decided to let her $3,000 ride and won again! With two spins she turned $1,500 into $6,000! Luckily she left after that just before the wheel spun black.
One of the highlights of our trip was seeing our first show. We purchased a dinner and show package at Mystere at TI. It was an amazing show! The dancers were so talented! After the show the 4 of us had a great dinner at The Steakhouse in TI. Being in TI brought back memories of our first trip ever to Vegas.
This Thursday we have another rendezvous planned in D.C./Virginia! I am looking forward to seeing Grant, spending time with some friends and seeing the city!
We met up with our good friends Jordan and Ryan and stayed at the most fabulous hotel – The Bellagio!
The flights out there were long, but well worth it! I was so excited to see Grant and visit Las Vegas for the first time since our Honeymoon in May/June. I decided to give Grant an early graduation gift – some money to gamble with. I tried to learn Craps, but was not very successful. However, Jordan was quite successful for her first time visiting Vegas. She won almost $400 on the quarter slots at our hotel!! We were all very excited for her win!!
Grant and I were able to spend some quality time together visiting various hotels on the strip. We went to the Wynn and watched the roulette table and saw a girl come and put $1500 on red. The wheel spun and she won! She decided to let her $3,000 ride and won again! With two spins she turned $1,500 into $6,000! Luckily she left after that just before the wheel spun black.
One of the highlights of our trip was seeing our first show. We purchased a dinner and show package at Mystere at TI. It was an amazing show! The dancers were so talented! After the show the 4 of us had a great dinner at The Steakhouse in TI. Being in TI brought back memories of our first trip ever to Vegas.
This Thursday we have another rendezvous planned in D.C./Virginia! I am looking forward to seeing Grant, spending time with some friends and seeing the city!
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Orlando, Gainesville, Savannah
Grant and I had a great weekend in Orlando. When I arrived at the hotel on Friday afternoon I was quite surprised as Grant decorated the room with balloon animals that he made for me - a talent that I did not know he had! It made me feel so special! He is such a great husband!!
We went to Halloween Horror Nights on Friday night (Friday the 13th). We were very happy that we bought the express passes allowing us to skip the 100-minute lines for the haunted houses. My favorite part was Bill and Ted's show. The haunted houses all seemed the same to me and were not really that scary. We went on some rides too.
On Saturday we went to the mall and ran into the Red M&M!
After we went to the mall we played miniature golf where Grant beat me by one stroke! I demand a rematch!! The rest of the evening was spent watching the Gators...as they gave the game away to Auburn. It was not pleasant.
On Sunday I realized that the weekend went by all too quickly.
Here are some pictures from Marin's visit and from some Gator games.
We went to Halloween Horror Nights on Friday night (Friday the 13th). We were very happy that we bought the express passes allowing us to skip the 100-minute lines for the haunted houses. My favorite part was Bill and Ted's show. The haunted houses all seemed the same to me and were not really that scary. We went on some rides too.
On Saturday we went to the mall and ran into the Red M&M!
After we went to the mall we played miniature golf where Grant beat me by one stroke! I demand a rematch!! The rest of the evening was spent watching the Gators...as they gave the game away to Auburn. It was not pleasant.
On Sunday I realized that the weekend went by all too quickly.
Here are some pictures from Marin's visit and from some Gator games.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Looking forward toward tomorrow
Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I have photos to put up from a couple more FABULOUS Florida football games and my friend Marin's visit. I will post some photos and tell you all about my fun weekend trips on Monday. Until then I am looking forward to seeing Grant again this weekend. We are meeting up in Orlando for Halloween Horror Nights. We are going to HHN on Friday the 13th! I am very excited.
It has been a busy week at work, so I am in need of a nice relaxing weekend with my husband. =)
Other things to look forward to:
*Vegas in two weeks with Grant, Jordan and Ryan -- we are staying at the Bellagio!!
*DC in November to visit friends and go to a wedding
Have a great weekend!!
Becky =)
It has been a busy week at work, so I am in need of a nice relaxing weekend with my husband. =)
Other things to look forward to:
*Vegas in two weeks with Grant, Jordan and Ryan -- we are staying at the Bellagio!!
*DC in November to visit friends and go to a wedding
Have a great weekend!!
Becky =)
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Last weekend
Last weekend Grant and I met up in Gainesville for the Alabama game. I was able to get 2 tickets from work and sit, for the first time ever, in the alumni section!
Grant’s mom came up with him. It was really nice to see her as well as my husband. We stayed with Grant’s brother Steve, his wife Meagon and their son. I really enjoyed spending time with everyone. =)
On Saturday, Grant and I went to the game. Before the game we tailgated with my old roommate Erin, her boyfriend and their friends from law school.
Our friend Danielle met up with us and introduced us to her daughter Savannah! She was ADORABLE! She is the first baby of our group of friends from Jennings 1. (not including our RA’s baby)
Jennings 1 Girls with Savannah.
Erin is a natural!
The game was awesome! We didn’t play as well as I had hoped for, but a win is a win. They even gave out foam fingers for FREE!! Here is Grant picking his nose with it. :p
All in all it was a fun time. I miss Grant already!! Happy 4 months of marriage baby! (and 49 months of dating!)
Grant’s mom came up with him. It was really nice to see her as well as my husband. We stayed with Grant’s brother Steve, his wife Meagon and their son. I really enjoyed spending time with everyone. =)
On Saturday, Grant and I went to the game. Before the game we tailgated with my old roommate Erin, her boyfriend and their friends from law school.
Our friend Danielle met up with us and introduced us to her daughter Savannah! She was ADORABLE! She is the first baby of our group of friends from Jennings 1. (not including our RA’s baby)
Jennings 1 Girls with Savannah. 
Erin is a natural! 
The game was awesome! We didn’t play as well as I had hoped for, but a win is a win. They even gave out foam fingers for FREE!! Here is Grant picking his nose with it. :p All in all it was a fun time. I miss Grant already!! Happy 4 months of marriage baby! (and 49 months of dating!)
Monday, September 18, 2006
Jags Game
Grant came to visit last weekend. It was so nice to have him up here again. I had missed him terribly. On Friday I got a call from a coworker who had extra tickets to the Jaguars game. Grant agreed to stay later and go to the game with me.
On Sunday our mission was to find Jaguar shirts to wear to the game. One would think that there would be a plethora of Jaguar-branded apparel around the city as it was the first home game of the 2006 regular season. However, Grant and I visited numerous stores before finding anything. I got a teal tank top from Old Navy and we got Grant a kids size XL t-shirt from Target because all that they had for men was size XXL or long-sleeved. I think I have found a great idea for a business!!
It was a great time! It rained for a bit, but luckily we had club tickets so we could enjoy the amenities and watch the Bears game until it cleared up.
At halftime we were in the club and I heard Sister Hazel playing...they were the halftime act! In all, we had a blast and the Jags won!
On Sunday our mission was to find Jaguar shirts to wear to the game. One would think that there would be a plethora of Jaguar-branded apparel around the city as it was the first home game of the 2006 regular season. However, Grant and I visited numerous stores before finding anything. I got a teal tank top from Old Navy and we got Grant a kids size XL t-shirt from Target because all that they had for men was size XXL or long-sleeved. I think I have found a great idea for a business!!
It was a great time! It rained for a bit, but luckily we had club tickets so we could enjoy the amenities and watch the Bears game until it cleared up.
At halftime we were in the club and I heard Sister Hazel playing...they were the halftime act! In all, we had a blast and the Jags won!
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
HOT-lanta!
I apologize that it has been a while since my last post. I had a great time in Atlanta seeing my old and good friend Brent do his thing Major League style!
It was great to see my Uncle John who flew in from Chicago and to spend time with my Aunt Diane. We went to a “Summer in the Shade” festival in Grant Park in Atlanta, which was a lot of fun! My Aunt bought a really neat mirror.
I took my Aunt and Uncle to my favorite road in Atlanta, Paces Ferry. The mayor’s mansion is on Paces Ferry along with a bunch of really cool houses. We saw a sign for an estate sale so we stopped and got to see the inside of one home in that area. It was quite impressive. I also got to take my Aunt and Uncle to my favorite breakfast place in Atlanta, the Flying Biscuit. It is FABULOUS! We had such a great time!!
It was great to see my Uncle John who flew in from Chicago and to spend time with my Aunt Diane. We went to a “Summer in the Shade” festival in Grant Park in Atlanta, which was a lot of fun! My Aunt bought a really neat mirror.
I took my Aunt and Uncle to my favorite road in Atlanta, Paces Ferry. The mayor’s mansion is on Paces Ferry along with a bunch of really cool houses. We saw a sign for an estate sale so we stopped and got to see the inside of one home in that area. It was quite impressive. I also got to take my Aunt and Uncle to my favorite breakfast place in Atlanta, the Flying Biscuit. It is FABULOUS! We had such a great time!!
Friday, August 25, 2006
Going to the ballpark
I am going to Atlanta in a few minutes to go to Faith Days at the Atlanta Braves. I am very excited to see me old friend Brent High take his concept that we did together in Nashville to the Major Leagues! To read more about Faith Days visit Third Coast Sports website.
I will post some pictures from our new digital camera when I return!
Becky =)
I will post some pictures from our new digital camera when I return!
Becky =)
Monday, August 21, 2006
17 days!
My brother Mike left for his Freshman year at Florida State on Saturday. My brother Nick left for his Junior year at UF on Sunday. Grant left for his last semester at FGCU yesterday. The house is much quieter now, less the fights over who gets to move into Mike’s room while he is away at school.
I miss Grant so much already. Yesterday he dropped me off at the gym on his way to Fort Myers. I worked out, trying not to think about the empty home I’d return to. I made dinner for myself and cleaned the house a bit. I watched our favorite TV shows without him. I went to be comforted by one of Grant’s shirts that he left folded under my pillow with the scent of his cologne.
The next few months will be difficult, a continuous countdown until I get to see him again. Right now it is at 17 days. Sometimes I think about how sad it will be not seeing him each day, but then I feel awful for feeling so down. He is just going to school. He is not being sent overseas to fight in a war. He is not being sent to a hospital to get treatments for a life-threatening disease. We can make it through the next four months and enjoy our visits, phone calls and emails.
Through all of this I am reminded of how lucky I am to have such a wonderful, loving and caring husband and such a healthy relationship.
I miss Grant so much already. Yesterday he dropped me off at the gym on his way to Fort Myers. I worked out, trying not to think about the empty home I’d return to. I made dinner for myself and cleaned the house a bit. I watched our favorite TV shows without him. I went to be comforted by one of Grant’s shirts that he left folded under my pillow with the scent of his cologne.
The next few months will be difficult, a continuous countdown until I get to see him again. Right now it is at 17 days. Sometimes I think about how sad it will be not seeing him each day, but then I feel awful for feeling so down. He is just going to school. He is not being sent overseas to fight in a war. He is not being sent to a hospital to get treatments for a life-threatening disease. We can make it through the next four months and enjoy our visits, phone calls and emails.
Through all of this I am reminded of how lucky I am to have such a wonderful, loving and caring husband and such a healthy relationship.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
I'm baaack
Much has happened in the last month or so since I have posted on here. I am going to make an effort to post more frequently.
Grant and I have been truly enjoying married life. It is so nice being in the same place. Grant has finished up school for the summer and is getting restless at home while I’ve been busy at work. I am transitioning into a new role at work. I am excited about learning a new part of the business and broadening my skills. I am also looking forward to applying all of my learning from the past 8 months in my new position.
Grant and I traveled to Fort Myers a couple of weeks ago to visit his parents and to go to his friend’s wedding. It was fun to go to our first wedding after our own. I really enjoyed seeing his parents. I wish that they lived closer or that there was a direct flight from here to there. The drive is a long one! Grant and I did, however, stop in Orlando on the way back to do a little shopping. We bought a few items that were left on one of our registries from the wedding. It was a good break.
In two short weeks Grant will be leaving to return home for his last semester of school. I am going to miss him so much! We started planning out our weekends. Since he works mostly on the weekends we have to plan out our weekend visits in advance. We have a couple fun trips planned. We are going to Vegas again with Jordan, my maid of honor, and her boyfriend Ryan in October. This will be our first time going to Vegas with friends. I am excited, but I do hope that we will have some time to spend alone too since that will be our one weekend together in October. In November we are traveling to D.C. to visit my friend and bridesmaid Danielle and her boyfriend Jose. We are also going to Grant’s friend’s wedding in Virginia.
I hope the next few months go by quickly!
On another note, Grant and I started looking for places to live. I am so excited about getting our own place!!
Grant and I have been truly enjoying married life. It is so nice being in the same place. Grant has finished up school for the summer and is getting restless at home while I’ve been busy at work. I am transitioning into a new role at work. I am excited about learning a new part of the business and broadening my skills. I am also looking forward to applying all of my learning from the past 8 months in my new position.
Grant and I traveled to Fort Myers a couple of weeks ago to visit his parents and to go to his friend’s wedding. It was fun to go to our first wedding after our own. I really enjoyed seeing his parents. I wish that they lived closer or that there was a direct flight from here to there. The drive is a long one! Grant and I did, however, stop in Orlando on the way back to do a little shopping. We bought a few items that were left on one of our registries from the wedding. It was a good break.
In two short weeks Grant will be leaving to return home for his last semester of school. I am going to miss him so much! We started planning out our weekends. Since he works mostly on the weekends we have to plan out our weekend visits in advance. We have a couple fun trips planned. We are going to Vegas again with Jordan, my maid of honor, and her boyfriend Ryan in October. This will be our first time going to Vegas with friends. I am excited, but I do hope that we will have some time to spend alone too since that will be our one weekend together in October. In November we are traveling to D.C. to visit my friend and bridesmaid Danielle and her boyfriend Jose. We are also going to Grant’s friend’s wedding in Virginia.
I hope the next few months go by quickly!
On another note, Grant and I started looking for places to live. I am so excited about getting our own place!!
Friday, June 23, 2006
Monday, June 19, 2006
Professional Wedding Photos are up!
Check out our wedding pictures! There are quite a few (just under 1000) so take your time!
Go to this link and select Zaccardi & Clem Wedding at the bottom right. If it asks for a password type in modern06.
I can't believe it has been over 3 weeks from our wedding!!
~Becky =)
Go to this link and select Zaccardi & Clem Wedding at the bottom right. If it asks for a password type in modern06.
I can't believe it has been over 3 weeks from our wedding!!
~Becky =)
Monday, June 05, 2006
Honeymoon Pictures
Grant and I had a great Honeymoon in Las Vegas. Here are a few pictures:
For the wedding I got Grant a surprise helicopter ride to the Grand Canyon. We landed and ate dinner there and then flew back over the Strip just before sunset.
Flavor Flav went to the Grand Canyon with us!
Wavepool at the Mandalay Bay.
For the wedding I got Grant a surprise helicopter ride to the Grand Canyon. We landed and ate dinner there and then flew back over the Strip just before sunset.
Flavor Flav went to the Grand Canyon with us!
Wavepool at the Mandalay Bay.
Sunday, June 04, 2006
We're Married!
Grant and I got married on Sunday. It was the best day ever!! We had a great weekend with all of our friends, a great wedding and an amazing honeymoon in Las Vegas. We stayed in a Penthouse Suite at the Mandalay Bay hotel, took a helicopter ride into the Grand Canyon with Flavor Flav, ate at Aureole and visited the top of the Statosphere for lunch on a rotating floor!
My fabulous Maid of Honor, Jordan, posted some pictures from the wedding and rehearsal dinner here. Grant and I will share the link to our professional pictures once we get it!
Thank you to all who traveled to Chicago to share our BIG day with us! It wouldn't have been quite as special without you all there!
~Becky =)
My fabulous Maid of Honor, Jordan, posted some pictures from the wedding and rehearsal dinner here. Grant and I will share the link to our professional pictures once we get it!
Thank you to all who traveled to Chicago to share our BIG day with us! It wouldn't have been quite as special without you all there!
~Becky =)
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
26 Days!
So I haven’t updated this in a while. I don’t even think anyone reads it anymore, but here is a little something for those of you who are here.
The wedding is quickly approaching. It is only 26 days away. I cannot believe it is so close! There are a lot of things that are done and a lot left to do. Wedding planning is a lot of work at the beginning, then there is a little break, then you have to go back and make sure everything is on track just before the BIG day. That is where Grant and I are.
I have contacted the DJ and sent a song list, I’ve contacted the florist, I spoke with the reception venue, and Grant is contacting the limo company and the rehearsal dinner restaurant. My maid of honor is going to the bakery this week to order the cake. I am going to contact the photographer this week to make sure we are all set. The honeymoon flight is booked, hotel is reserved. Presents are being bought and rehearsal dinner invitations sent. Programs have to be made, a signature frame bought. I feel like there is something missing, but I think we’ve got it all taken care of. My Aunts are decorating the church and doing the centerpieces for the reception. Hair appointments and nail appointments have been made, but there is still a chance that they may change. Rings have been gotten. Ceremony music will be picked the week before the wedding when I meet with the organist.
I guess we are just waiting…and doing the little things. Woohoo! It is almost here!
The wedding is quickly approaching. It is only 26 days away. I cannot believe it is so close! There are a lot of things that are done and a lot left to do. Wedding planning is a lot of work at the beginning, then there is a little break, then you have to go back and make sure everything is on track just before the BIG day. That is where Grant and I are.
I have contacted the DJ and sent a song list, I’ve contacted the florist, I spoke with the reception venue, and Grant is contacting the limo company and the rehearsal dinner restaurant. My maid of honor is going to the bakery this week to order the cake. I am going to contact the photographer this week to make sure we are all set. The honeymoon flight is booked, hotel is reserved. Presents are being bought and rehearsal dinner invitations sent. Programs have to be made, a signature frame bought. I feel like there is something missing, but I think we’ve got it all taken care of. My Aunts are decorating the church and doing the centerpieces for the reception. Hair appointments and nail appointments have been made, but there is still a chance that they may change. Rings have been gotten. Ceremony music will be picked the week before the wedding when I meet with the organist.
I guess we are just waiting…and doing the little things. Woohoo! It is almost here!
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
My Weekend with Grant
My weekend with Grant has come and gone. I had a fabulous time with him. We saw a movie, went shopping, ate out, made two great dinners, got some wedding stuff done and truly enjoyed each other's company. I miss him already! But as each weekend comes and goes we are that much closer to being together forever.
Grant and I got the tuxes all set up so the guys can go get measured anytime up until two weeks before the wedding. We also got some gifts for people. I've spoken to the organist and I am working on making appointments for dress alterations. My mom, aunt and I finally decided on a centerpiece idea and bought some stuff for that. It is all coming together. I just can't wait until May 28...it's now less than 100 days away.
The Gators have a big basketball game tonight against Tennessee. It should be a good one.
Grant and I got the tuxes all set up so the guys can go get measured anytime up until two weeks before the wedding. We also got some gifts for people. I've spoken to the organist and I am working on making appointments for dress alterations. My mom, aunt and I finally decided on a centerpiece idea and bought some stuff for that. It is all coming together. I just can't wait until May 28...it's now less than 100 days away.
The Gators have a big basketball game tonight against Tennessee. It should be a good one.
Friday, February 10, 2006
Car troubles
The past 12 days have been long - especially for my 99 Saturn. Two Sundays ago I was driving back from a great weekend in Atlanta and it began to rain...
I was in South Georgia.
It was just before dusk.
My windshield wipers stopped functioning.
I made it to Baldwin, Florida where I met up with my amazing Mother who picked me up and drove me the rest of the way home (about 45 minutes). We left my Saturn at the gas station. The next day my fabulous Father and Brother went to pick it up and get the wipers fixed. I also got an oil change, coolant flush and something else...I forget.
Then, this past Wednesday I went to get into my car for lunch and tried to start it and nothing...So my Dad and I jumped the car and took it to get fixed...again. Luckily, the shop called and it only needed a battery. They replaced it and I picked it up after work.
Then, this morning I asked my Dad to warm up the car at 6AM before I went to the gym. He came back and told me it wouldn't start...again. The car had to be towed to the shop because the battery was totally dead. The shop said that the battery they put in on Wednesday had only 8 volts of energy so they replaced it again for free.
I was supposed to go to Gainesville this weekend for the Inaugural Sports Business Forum at UF, but decided after I got my car back at 11:30 this morning that I shouldn't go. I wish I could have gone, but there were just too many problems that made me think I should just stay here.
I am desperately trying to hang onto my car until the wedding has passed...even though it has no air conditioning, the fabric is falling from the ceiling and the radio changes stations at it's own will. I am not sure how much longer I can take it.
On another note, the wedding is in 107 days and Grant is coming to see me in 7 days. I am very excited for both. We booked airline tickets to go to Vegas for our honeymoon. After all of the wedding planning I did not want to plan a vacation. I am looking forward to doing nothing for a week in Vegas. It's going to be great.
~Becky
I was in South Georgia.
It was just before dusk.
My windshield wipers stopped functioning.
I made it to Baldwin, Florida where I met up with my amazing Mother who picked me up and drove me the rest of the way home (about 45 minutes). We left my Saturn at the gas station. The next day my fabulous Father and Brother went to pick it up and get the wipers fixed. I also got an oil change, coolant flush and something else...I forget.
Then, this past Wednesday I went to get into my car for lunch and tried to start it and nothing...So my Dad and I jumped the car and took it to get fixed...again. Luckily, the shop called and it only needed a battery. They replaced it and I picked it up after work.
Then, this morning I asked my Dad to warm up the car at 6AM before I went to the gym. He came back and told me it wouldn't start...again. The car had to be towed to the shop because the battery was totally dead. The shop said that the battery they put in on Wednesday had only 8 volts of energy so they replaced it again for free.
I was supposed to go to Gainesville this weekend for the Inaugural Sports Business Forum at UF, but decided after I got my car back at 11:30 this morning that I shouldn't go. I wish I could have gone, but there were just too many problems that made me think I should just stay here.
I am desperately trying to hang onto my car until the wedding has passed...even though it has no air conditioning, the fabric is falling from the ceiling and the radio changes stations at it's own will. I am not sure how much longer I can take it.
On another note, the wedding is in 107 days and Grant is coming to see me in 7 days. I am very excited for both. We booked airline tickets to go to Vegas for our honeymoon. After all of the wedding planning I did not want to plan a vacation. I am looking forward to doing nothing for a week in Vegas. It's going to be great.
~Becky
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
123...4567...no! 123 days until the wedding!
Get excited! The wedding is all coming together. I have updated our wedding website with hotel information and things to do in Chicago. Go check it out! (see link on left panel) We have gotten a lot done, but still have a lot to do.
Done:
Dress
Church
Reception Space
Caterer
DJ
Florist
Photographer
Hotel Block
In Process:
Charter Bus/Limo
Tuxes
Hair/Nails/Makeup Appointments
Rehearsal Dinner
Bridesmaids and Flower Girl Dresses
Honeymoon
To Do:
Organist
Dress Alterations
Transportation from Florida to Chicago for the wedding
I am very excited and looking forward to May 28! It cannot get here fast enough.
On other fronts...
-Work is going very well. I am really enjoying my job and learning more and more each day. I cannot wait until The PLAYERS Championship rolls into town in March. It should be a fun and busy week.
-Grant is doing well. He is busy working and going to school. He is looking to intern in Jacksonville this summer and obtain a full-time job here in December. We were able to see each other 2 weeks ago and I miss him more and more each day. We aren't going to see each other again until February 17. It seems so far away, but I am sure it will come fast.
-I am going to Atlanta this weekend to visit a good friend of mine and one of my bridesmaids. We are going to have a great time as I always do with her.
-Soon I am going to start looking for places for Grant and I to live. The day that he moves up here for good will be the happiest day of my life or at least be one of the happiest days.
Thanks for reading. Sorry we haven't posted much lately.
Becky :)
Done:
Dress
Church
Reception Space
Caterer
DJ
Florist
Photographer
Hotel Block
In Process:
Charter Bus/Limo
Tuxes
Hair/Nails/Makeup Appointments
Rehearsal Dinner
Bridesmaids and Flower Girl Dresses
Honeymoon
To Do:
Organist
Dress Alterations
Transportation from Florida to Chicago for the wedding
I am very excited and looking forward to May 28! It cannot get here fast enough.
On other fronts...
-Work is going very well. I am really enjoying my job and learning more and more each day. I cannot wait until The PLAYERS Championship rolls into town in March. It should be a fun and busy week.
-Grant is doing well. He is busy working and going to school. He is looking to intern in Jacksonville this summer and obtain a full-time job here in December. We were able to see each other 2 weeks ago and I miss him more and more each day. We aren't going to see each other again until February 17. It seems so far away, but I am sure it will come fast.
-I am going to Atlanta this weekend to visit a good friend of mine and one of my bridesmaids. We are going to have a great time as I always do with her.
-Soon I am going to start looking for places for Grant and I to live. The day that he moves up here for good will be the happiest day of my life or at least be one of the happiest days.
Thanks for reading. Sorry we haven't posted much lately.
Becky :)
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Updates...139 days until 05.28.2006!
1. Cheesecake Factory: Grant received a phone call from the General Manager of the Cheesecake Factory a few days ago. He should be receiving some gift cards in the mail soon.
2. I received our wedding invitations in the mail on Friday. They are wonderful! I am so excited!
3. This weekend I got one step closer to picking out bridesmaids dresses. I went to go look at some in person and found a designer that I really love. I have narrowed the search to 5 of his dresses. I am going to take a vote with the bridesmaids and see which dress wins.
4. Work is going really well. The PGA TOUR season kicked off this weekend with the Mercedes Championships. I have orientation at work on Monday and Tuesday. I am looking forward to meeting some of the other new hires at the TOUR.
5. I am going to see Grant on Friday. I can't wait to go down to Fort Myers and catch a few sunsets! We are also going to look at tuxes and meet with a travel agent to start planning our honeymoon!
6. Grant and my trip to Chicago was fabulous! We met with the florist, the pastor, the bakery and looked at minicharter buses. We registered at Crate & Barrel too. We also got to spend some quality time with our friends. We went downtown one day and took pictures by the bean in Millennium Park. We also went to the zoo with Richard and Nathan.
That is about all for now. :) Go BEARS!
2. I received our wedding invitations in the mail on Friday. They are wonderful! I am so excited!
3. This weekend I got one step closer to picking out bridesmaids dresses. I went to go look at some in person and found a designer that I really love. I have narrowed the search to 5 of his dresses. I am going to take a vote with the bridesmaids and see which dress wins.
4. Work is going really well. The PGA TOUR season kicked off this weekend with the Mercedes Championships. I have orientation at work on Monday and Tuesday. I am looking forward to meeting some of the other new hires at the TOUR.
5. I am going to see Grant on Friday. I can't wait to go down to Fort Myers and catch a few sunsets! We are also going to look at tuxes and meet with a travel agent to start planning our honeymoon!
6. Grant and my trip to Chicago was fabulous! We met with the florist, the pastor, the bakery and looked at minicharter buses. We registered at Crate & Barrel too. We also got to spend some quality time with our friends. We went downtown one day and took pictures by the bean in Millennium Park. We also went to the zoo with Richard and Nathan.
That is about all for now. :) Go BEARS!
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Dear Cheesecake Factory
This is a real letter describing a real dining experience at the Cheesecake Factory...
On January 1, 2006 at 6:45pm three of my friends and I chose to celebrate a friend’s birthday at The Cheesecake Factory located in OAKBROOK MALL. The food was delicious and always is when I eat there but the quality of service that we were given was the absolute worse I had ever received. In consequence, I feel that you should be aware of my experience so the necessary actions to prevent any possible reoccurrence of such an experience, to avoid any negative connotations towards your brand and to eliminate the poor quality of service at your OAKBROOK MALL location.
My fiancée and I were visiting the area and meet up with two of our friends from Indianapolis, IN. It was one of their birthdays and we specifically chose The Cheesecake Factory because of previous great experiences we had enjoyed in Florida and Las Vegas. We chose to sit at the bar to avoid the wait. We ordered an appetizer and our main dishes. Specifically, there was an order placed for the catch of the day, salmon. When the food arrived at our table, mahi mahi was brought out in place of the salmon; our server, who I believe was Constantine, noticed the mistake before we could bring it to his attention. He immediately took the salmon back and told us that it would be fixed. Ten minutes went by and our server had not been seen since he dropped off the food. The rest of us were coming close to finishing up our meals. Our friend began nibbling on our meals and the bread at the table. He went to the restroom and the server stopped by to check on our food. When our friend returned he called over a nearby server and asked about his meal. She told us our server was in the back getting on the cooks about it. He continued to wait and the rest of us finished our meals so they would not get cold. With no sign of our server for another ten minutes, our friend lost his appetite. At this point we looked around for anyone to notify that we no longer wanted the meal but no one was around. It took at least 27-30 minutes from when they first took the incorrect meal away before our friend got what he had first ordered. Our server brought it out and didn’t make eye contact with any of us and dropped it down and walked away before we could say anything. Then we hunted down another server to inform them we did not want it any more.
Finally, a manager, Chris, came to talk to us. He formally apologized to us but never told us what had happened. He told us he would gladly wrap it up for us to take home but we declined because our guests were driving four hours back to Indianapolis just after dinner. The manager, Chris, then stated, “Well, I would hate for you to have to pay for something you did not eat.” None of us could believe he would say that and charge us for something that was not consumed. Whether this is policy or him trying to save on comp cost, I found it extremely rude. He went on asking again if we were sure he couldn’t wrap it for us. We then informed him of every ones traveling and that it would not possibly stay good for that long of time. Chris then told our guest that the meal could be wrapped up and that he could eat it in the car! In the end, he eventually took it off, but I remain shocked at the way our simple problem was handled and how your manager treated us. I find this to be totally unacceptable hope that you do as well. I just wish that the way this manager communicates with guests is adjusted and no other customers have to go through what we my friends and I did. Needless to say, my friends and I will not be dining at your OAKBROOK MALL location again.
On January 1, 2006 at 6:45pm three of my friends and I chose to celebrate a friend’s birthday at The Cheesecake Factory located in OAKBROOK MALL. The food was delicious and always is when I eat there but the quality of service that we were given was the absolute worse I had ever received. In consequence, I feel that you should be aware of my experience so the necessary actions to prevent any possible reoccurrence of such an experience, to avoid any negative connotations towards your brand and to eliminate the poor quality of service at your OAKBROOK MALL location.
My fiancée and I were visiting the area and meet up with two of our friends from Indianapolis, IN. It was one of their birthdays and we specifically chose The Cheesecake Factory because of previous great experiences we had enjoyed in Florida and Las Vegas. We chose to sit at the bar to avoid the wait. We ordered an appetizer and our main dishes. Specifically, there was an order placed for the catch of the day, salmon. When the food arrived at our table, mahi mahi was brought out in place of the salmon; our server, who I believe was Constantine, noticed the mistake before we could bring it to his attention. He immediately took the salmon back and told us that it would be fixed. Ten minutes went by and our server had not been seen since he dropped off the food. The rest of us were coming close to finishing up our meals. Our friend began nibbling on our meals and the bread at the table. He went to the restroom and the server stopped by to check on our food. When our friend returned he called over a nearby server and asked about his meal. She told us our server was in the back getting on the cooks about it. He continued to wait and the rest of us finished our meals so they would not get cold. With no sign of our server for another ten minutes, our friend lost his appetite. At this point we looked around for anyone to notify that we no longer wanted the meal but no one was around. It took at least 27-30 minutes from when they first took the incorrect meal away before our friend got what he had first ordered. Our server brought it out and didn’t make eye contact with any of us and dropped it down and walked away before we could say anything. Then we hunted down another server to inform them we did not want it any more.
Finally, a manager, Chris, came to talk to us. He formally apologized to us but never told us what had happened. He told us he would gladly wrap it up for us to take home but we declined because our guests were driving four hours back to Indianapolis just after dinner. The manager, Chris, then stated, “Well, I would hate for you to have to pay for something you did not eat.” None of us could believe he would say that and charge us for something that was not consumed. Whether this is policy or him trying to save on comp cost, I found it extremely rude. He went on asking again if we were sure he couldn’t wrap it for us. We then informed him of every ones traveling and that it would not possibly stay good for that long of time. Chris then told our guest that the meal could be wrapped up and that he could eat it in the car! In the end, he eventually took it off, but I remain shocked at the way our simple problem was handled and how your manager treated us. I find this to be totally unacceptable hope that you do as well. I just wish that the way this manager communicates with guests is adjusted and no other customers have to go through what we my friends and I did. Needless to say, my friends and I will not be dining at your OAKBROOK MALL location again.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)