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Happy Holidays
Quick rundown of family centered holidays.

December 2010 - January 2011

Aside from the debacle of trying to get from one side of the country to the other during the holidays (a mission that put us in quite a foul mood), we had a good time. Our flight was supposed to leave early, but Southwest Airlines, brilliant fuckers that they are, overbooked the flight. Like massive overbooked. So overbooked that they couldn't fit us on another flight until seven hours later. Not only that, but we had to stay in Las Vegas overnight but were too tired to enjoy it.

We should've been in Florida on the 23rd. Instead we got there on the 24th, halfway through the day. And to add to that, we had to get into the car and drive two hours to get to Sebastian where the family gathered for Noche Buena.

Let me say that the first thing I did, in between hugging and kissing relatives, was have a couple shots of tequila.

Ate plenty, laughed and played games, slept uncomfortably (my youngest cousin can be a bit of a greedy bitch when it comes to sleeping arrangements), gave presents the next day, got mad at my brothers, forgave them, and then went "home" to Hialeah. Not a lot of people liked the presents Magni and I got them (Kristin), which was odd. After all, it's not like I enjoy most of the presents my uncle and aunt give me. And I thought the present we got her was thoughtful. She likes taking pictures of herself. So I got her a nice bag that allowed her to stick photos of herself and she totally hated it.

Go figure.

Anyway, spent time with the family, got my hair trimmed (my grandmother was adamant about me not cutting it despite my desire to), got it dyed by my grandmother, hung out, played Rock Band, some Wii, the usual. Saw some friends.

New Years came and went with the usual family gathering and then the next day, January 2nd, we (Magni, Marshall, Alain and I) got up ridiculously early to drive up to Orlando to get to Universal Studios' Island of Adventure to see the new Harry Potter Land. Beautifully done, great design, though some of the older rides that were modified to fit in the new theme--which turned into an epic fail. The new Potter ride is great, but the theme for what once was the best ride in the park--the Dueling Dragons--was changed to fit the Potter theme. So instead of an epic castle of scary with fire and ice motifs, there is now an empty castle with floating candles.

There was a line to get into Olivanders, and to a few other stores--hell, a line to get into that area of the park. We took pictures, walked around the rest of the park, ate at the giant Hogwarts restaurant, Magni bought some things. We took a picture of the three of us in our Hogwarts' houses. We left that same day, drove back exhausted, rested the next day and Magni and I were back on our way here.



June 2011

Parents came in pretty late, and we stayed up even later (despite having to get up early in the morning) talking. Next morning we were up and on our way to Portland. Surprisingly enough, just in time for the Rose Festival. We drove around, booked into a Quinta, wandered around some more, and came across a slew of bicyclists--at least a hundred of them--riding down through downtown Portland, bare ass naked.

Yay Portland!

We decided what things we wanted to check--waterfront, Powell's, Pambiche--and headed to Pambiche for lunch. We had lots of tasty foods, including guava cheesecake which we attacked. Then back to La Quinta to drop off our stuff and take the local transportation. I love those tram things they have there. Just so awesome. We walked the waterfront, saw all the naval ships and shops set up because of the Rose Festival. Stopped at a microbrewery for a couple of beers and then kept walking. Eventually we hit Powell's. I bought a couple of books, Mom bought a whole bunch, Daddy a couple. Then we walked some more down to a Chinese restaurant, ate some more (oh, goodness the eating), and then walked back. Poor Mom was way too stuffed.

It was a rough night, but the next day we did more walking, some buying, checked out another microbrewery and had lunch. After that it was out of Portland and off to the coast. We went to Cannon Beach and then headed out to take a coastal trip back to Seattle. It as nice, if a little long.

The rest of the week was going out and making food and watching movies. We went to Gas Works Park, Whidbey Island, and did the Underground Tour. Mom and I saw a couple of movies and did some shopping with Rio, and went to the Science Fiction Museum and the EMP for the new exhibits. We saw the AVATAR, Battleship Galactica and the Nirvana exhibits--all really cool, if a little small. Though the AVATAR one (though small) was very high tech and quite cool. Did a couple more breweries, fought, cried, laughed, and played BANG!, Magic the Gathering and dominoes.

It was a fun-filled full ten days and I miss them.

Will post pics...once I find them. Urg.



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QUOTE OF THE DAY:

"No man needs a vacation so much as the person who has just had one." ~Elbert Hubbard