Awaking early sunday morning with two great danes still hasn't become normal to me. Fortunately and unfortunately it will be the last time - this trip at least - that I will experience that. Ash and I spent the day cleaning up the house and packing our bags. The homeowners were to return around 5 at night. We returned to the Red Barn to buy shirts and things for the people back home. It was crowded. Some of the shirts change color in the sun! Ash got more olives as I sampled more pickles. We returned to the house to check on the doggies, and Once we were satisfied with our belongings we drove to the Tampa airport to pick them up. Which meant we had to yet again cross the Sunshine Skyway. The airport was jammed full of cars waiting for their passengers, but we squeezed in and scooped up ours. We had Tony, Reba, and Kim - a friend of Ash's and related to T&R. On our way back there were two automobile collisions on the Skyway, which backed up traffic for days (not literally, but still) It took much longer to get back to the house than we'd planned. The dogs were of course overjoyed to see T&R back.
After a while Kim wanted to get out of the house, so Ash and I decided to go to the beach to get sand and water as s souveneir. While there we saw the sunset. It was so beautiful. I wish we could've stayed longer, but tomorrow we must return to Mississippi.
Showing posts with label dog sitting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dog sitting. Show all posts
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Day 8, The Pier
Whoever said Sunday mornings were easy was dead wrong. Getting up at the butt crack of dawn to feed dogs and clean their poo. I couldn't get back to sleep. Eventually, that afternoon, Ash and I went to St. Petersburg. Which meant crossing the Sunshine Skyway again. Once we did, we began looking for the Pier, which is a complex containing stores, restaurants, and an aquarium. Upon arrival we were greeted by a bike messenger carrying flyers. He told us of a band playing live behind the building. We then perused the shops inside, but some of them were closed for lunch, so we too had lunch. We ate at a Chinese place in the Pier. Ash had sweet n sour chicken and I had teriyaki chicken. Both were delicious. After wards we went into a store that sold hot sauce. I love hot sauce, so this store was my equivalent to a candy store - me being the kid. Later we went up to the aquarium and saw lots of colorful fish. It was a very small aquarium though. After that we returned to the shopping floor. We went into a hat store and I got a hemp fedora. We wandered around from there looking into other shops along the way. Eventually we bought candles from a shop that makes awesomely designed candles.
We left the Pier, and got lost on our way back to Cortez. It took much longer than we were expecting, but nothing could have prepared us for the welcome awaiting us back at the house. We found it disheveled and pieces of colorful cardboard everywhere. Ash investigated and cried out in horror as she discovered the source. The dogs had eaten her Heroes season 3 dvd collection! She didn't want to have anything to do with them after that. We cleaned up and began to prep for tomorrow night's dinner. I plan on making fajitas.
We left the Pier, and got lost on our way back to Cortez. It took much longer than we were expecting, but nothing could have prepared us for the welcome awaiting us back at the house. We found it disheveled and pieces of colorful cardboard everywhere. Ash investigated and cried out in horror as she discovered the source. The dogs had eaten her Heroes season 3 dvd collection! She didn't want to have anything to do with them after that. We cleaned up and began to prep for tomorrow night's dinner. I plan on making fajitas.
Day 7, Sarasota Again
Saturday morning was spent watching cartoons, eating leftover pizza and chilling with the Prima Dogas. For the afternoon, We decided to return to Saint Armand's Circle in Sarasota. After making sure the dogs had gone potty before we left, we set out. We arrived at the circle and proceded to walk around. This time we went inside stores. One was a gallery and displayed paintings and glass sculptures. We also went into a store filled with characature paintins and shirts. Ash needed a new swimsuit, so we spent a lot of time in a beachwear store. I got a straw fedora. The afternoon just whittled away. We walked, sat, ate Gelato, we didn't eat lunch.
Upon returning to the house we found paper towels strewn ove the whole house. But it wasn't so bad. That night Ashley and I had Turkey with potatoes, green beans and brown rice. Yum. As we ate we watched The Producers, and Ash told me that tomorrow we were going to the Pier. I couldn't wait.
Upon returning to the house we found paper towels strewn ove the whole house. But it wasn't so bad. That night Ashley and I had Turkey with potatoes, green beans and brown rice. Yum. As we ate we watched The Producers, and Ash told me that tomorrow we were going to the Pier. I couldn't wait.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Day 1, The Trip
Sorry I'm behind on these posts. But here's my account of My and Ashley's tip to Florida.
I was awakened Sunday Morning around 8 o'clock by Ashley who had gotten much more sleep that night than I had. Apart from normally having problems getting to sleep, I had to pack up. I had just graduated college and moved out of the dorms that day. So It wasn't that I had to pack so much as unpack then repack. I was up late as she slept. Once we woke it took a few minutes to load the car. Once we did we drove by McDonald's and grabbed breakfast at the drive-thru. She got a McGriddle and I had a McMuffin w egg, but without cheese -- for 2 reasons. 1. I'm partially Lactose intolerant (meaning is still can digest dairy, just not much) 2. The cheese that McDonald's (and almost every fast food chain in America) uses what I consider the lowest form of cheese. It is nasty and covers the flavor of what you're eating. Trust me, just once, get that cheese burger without cheese. It tastes much much better. You should use better cheeses on sandwiches, But I digress.
We were quickly on the road. Soon we were caught in a rainstorm that blanketed the entire southeast US. We started on the Mississippi river and made for Florida. We had a 13-14 hour drive ahead of us. Once we gasses up the car, we were on our way out of Vicksburg, MS, before 9 o'clock central standard time. After a few minutes, the rain had begun to pour. It rained on and off as we traversed Mississippi. Otherwise, the trip was uneventful. So the randomness began. Among conversations about the previous few days, Ash sang along to a few songs playing from her iPhone, I did crosswords and played my PSP and I gave her some sour candy. Her reaction was priceless.
After a little over 2 hours we had our first pit stop at a convenience store just off the border of Mississippi and Alabama. While there, Ash got a few sodas and some sunflower seeds. From there I began to drive. I drove all the way through Alabama - including my first time to drive through the tunnel in Mobile. It rained the entire way through the state. But otherwise the trip was uneventful.
It was sometime in the afternoon when we arrived at the Alabama/ Florida border. We took a pit stop to taker pictures under the Blue Angel jet at the welcome center. After a short break I was back in the driver seat for the next leg of the journey. Again, there was nothing unusual that happened on the trip from then on. After a while my back began to hurt so I decided that I needed a break from driving. It was also time to gas up so I pulled into a Chevron somewhere and Ash pumped the gas, which might as well have been 3 dollars per gallon. From there, Ash drove. We eventually stopped at a British Petroleum that was very uptight about who uses their toilets. Paying customers only! So we got twinkies.
It was mid afternoon and we hadn't eaten since breakfast. We decided to get food in Tallahassee, but it was still a ways away. Again, the trip was uneventful. Upon reaching tallahassee, we found a Five Guys Burgers and Fries. If you haven't eaten at one, you should. They have the best burgers and fries around, beating out the big chains in taste and value. Each burger has 2 patties and your choice of topping. Ash had a cheeseburger with lettuce, pickles, and mustard, while I had a regular burger with lettuce, tomato, pickles, grilled onions and Frank's Hot Sauce. Delicious. Go and find one near you and have a burger!
Once we left, we had to find our way out of Tallahassee. It was still daylight, but the hours were getting late. We still had around four hours to go. We did see something unusual after we got back on the interstate. On the opposite side, a truck complete with a rig was pulling an airplane! Yes, and airplane. That thing was "flying" down the highway.
After an hour or so, we stopped at a rest area. Here we once again switched off driving and I took the wheel. I drove the rest of the way. A few hours later we got more gas at a shell station and then it was none stop to Cortez.
My back was not getting any better, so I stuck my neck pillow on my lower back and it seemed to help.
At around midnight we got into the Cortez area and after a few minutes we located the house. Tony, the homeowner, greeted us and so did the two dogs we were to watch. Both great danes. After taking a few minutes to get settled, It was time to go to bed. Tomorrow we will get to know the house, owners, and dogs.
I was awakened Sunday Morning around 8 o'clock by Ashley who had gotten much more sleep that night than I had. Apart from normally having problems getting to sleep, I had to pack up. I had just graduated college and moved out of the dorms that day. So It wasn't that I had to pack so much as unpack then repack. I was up late as she slept. Once we woke it took a few minutes to load the car. Once we did we drove by McDonald's and grabbed breakfast at the drive-thru. She got a McGriddle and I had a McMuffin w egg, but without cheese -- for 2 reasons. 1. I'm partially Lactose intolerant (meaning is still can digest dairy, just not much) 2. The cheese that McDonald's (and almost every fast food chain in America) uses what I consider the lowest form of cheese. It is nasty and covers the flavor of what you're eating. Trust me, just once, get that cheese burger without cheese. It tastes much much better. You should use better cheeses on sandwiches, But I digress.
We were quickly on the road. Soon we were caught in a rainstorm that blanketed the entire southeast US. We started on the Mississippi river and made for Florida. We had a 13-14 hour drive ahead of us. Once we gasses up the car, we were on our way out of Vicksburg, MS, before 9 o'clock central standard time. After a few minutes, the rain had begun to pour. It rained on and off as we traversed Mississippi. Otherwise, the trip was uneventful. So the randomness began. Among conversations about the previous few days, Ash sang along to a few songs playing from her iPhone, I did crosswords and played my PSP and I gave her some sour candy. Her reaction was priceless.
After a little over 2 hours we had our first pit stop at a convenience store just off the border of Mississippi and Alabama. While there, Ash got a few sodas and some sunflower seeds. From there I began to drive. I drove all the way through Alabama - including my first time to drive through the tunnel in Mobile. It rained the entire way through the state. But otherwise the trip was uneventful.
It was sometime in the afternoon when we arrived at the Alabama/ Florida border. We took a pit stop to taker pictures under the Blue Angel jet at the welcome center. After a short break I was back in the driver seat for the next leg of the journey. Again, there was nothing unusual that happened on the trip from then on. After a while my back began to hurt so I decided that I needed a break from driving. It was also time to gas up so I pulled into a Chevron somewhere and Ash pumped the gas, which might as well have been 3 dollars per gallon. From there, Ash drove. We eventually stopped at a British Petroleum that was very uptight about who uses their toilets. Paying customers only! So we got twinkies.
It was mid afternoon and we hadn't eaten since breakfast. We decided to get food in Tallahassee, but it was still a ways away. Again, the trip was uneventful. Upon reaching tallahassee, we found a Five Guys Burgers and Fries. If you haven't eaten at one, you should. They have the best burgers and fries around, beating out the big chains in taste and value. Each burger has 2 patties and your choice of topping. Ash had a cheeseburger with lettuce, pickles, and mustard, while I had a regular burger with lettuce, tomato, pickles, grilled onions and Frank's Hot Sauce. Delicious. Go and find one near you and have a burger!
Once we left, we had to find our way out of Tallahassee. It was still daylight, but the hours were getting late. We still had around four hours to go. We did see something unusual after we got back on the interstate. On the opposite side, a truck complete with a rig was pulling an airplane! Yes, and airplane. That thing was "flying" down the highway.
After an hour or so, we stopped at a rest area. Here we once again switched off driving and I took the wheel. I drove the rest of the way. A few hours later we got more gas at a shell station and then it was none stop to Cortez.
My back was not getting any better, so I stuck my neck pillow on my lower back and it seemed to help.
At around midnight we got into the Cortez area and after a few minutes we located the house. Tony, the homeowner, greeted us and so did the two dogs we were to watch. Both great danes. After taking a few minutes to get settled, It was time to go to bed. Tomorrow we will get to know the house, owners, and dogs.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
A Fortnight In Cortez
My name is Eric. Myself and my fiancee, Ashley will be spending a few weeks in Cortez, Florida. While there we will be house sitting for Ashley's co-worker's relatives and dog sitting as well. We will also try to relax in the beautiful Florida weather, have adventures and spend some romantic time together watching the sunsets and exploring the landscape. This blog is so that I may chronicle this journey and recount it to all those who are interested. I will also be talking more about myself, Ashley, our families, our lives, and any other random thought that occurs during this trip. I hope all who read this blog enjoy it as much as I will enjoy presenting it.
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