Or the humidity. Hordes of old people. Make that old cranky people that try to run over you in the middle of Costco.
My trip back to South Florida for business was fun while it lasted. It was super cool to hang out with my buddy Aree (she asked me to stay with her) as well as seeing old buddies and current co-workers.
Arrived a week ago Saturday at 5:30am. It was a chilly mid-30's getting off the plane which was a shock in and of itself. Normally, deplaning into a Fort Lauderdale airport jetway envelopes you in an invisible cloud of heat and humidity and makes you wish you were getting right back on the plane to escape. Not this time.
Aree picked me up shortly before 6 and boy was it weird to see the sun come up over the water as we drove to her home-away-from-home. We chatted and eventually crashed and I slept thru my dentist appt that I was able to snag last minute before I left. Was totally bummed that I missed it, but oh well, I was so tired I slept thru my alarm so there ya go.
After a quick lunch (go Baja Fresh) and a trip to Costco for Jager and Red Bull (priorities!!) it was off to visit our friend Henry at O'Malley's in Hollywood Beach. It'd been about 2 years since Henry and I had hung out at O'Malley's and Aree had never been there, her being new to FL and all.
For those of you that I drunk-dialed and tried to send pix, you know I had a good time. Our bar bill was over $200, thanks to Jager Bombs and Grand Mama shots and the random beer. We all wound up back at Henry's place, still freezing (it never got above 40 that day) and wound up commandeering Henry's bed...a waterbed with a broken heater...and spend the coldest night of my life trying to fall asleep but never quite made it. Sometime during the course of the night my blogger buddy Little called...hey honey, let me know what I said cause I know I talked to you but the memory is lacking as to what was discussed. (Edit- never mind. I remember now. He's not worth discussing anymore!)
Come morning we were STARVED so headed off for my yearly visit to Cracker Barrell. Let's face it, great food that is horribly bad for you so I only go once a year...if that.
During breakfast played back the night before for Aree by way of pix. Watching realization hit can be so humorous!
Home to snooze again in preparation for a BBQ at my buddy Howard (no, not Denver Howard) sister's house.
Howard was my roomie when I sold my house and started looking for a house in Denver. It was a great time in my life and we had a blast, other than the time I screamed bloody hell at him and his then-girlfriend in the meanest angriest outburst I had ever had in my entire life. Not good times, but we all got thru it. Chalk it up to Hurricane Wilma stress.
Was great seeing him, meeting his new gf Renee and of course seeing his sister and bro in law. The BBQ was awesome, food wonderful, company divine. He'd just sold his condo so congrats were in order as well.
Monday was my first day back in our FL office in over a year. Totally surreal day. Cool seeing my coworkers and work friends I hadn't seen for over a year. They all commented on how 'good I looked' and 'how young I looked'. Hmmm...I should have moved to Denver ages ago. That's what losing weight, cutting your hair and dying it purple will do!
Went out Monday night. Was in training all day Tuesday then went out Tuesday night as well. Weds, more training, then work, then Howard picked me up after work and drove me by the house he had just made an offer on the day before. That turned into a 2 hour drive of going around to see all the homes he had looked at in the last week.
When we were roomies, we'd spend tons of time driving around looking at homes for sale. He wanted a HOUSE with a GARAGE in the worst way. There were a couple of close calls where he came close to buying when I lived with him and on several occasions we would go traipsing thru empty backyards at 1 in the morning to check them out.
Was nice to have the one on one time and definitely brought back memories. By Weds, the weather had heated up to normal hot and sticky weather. As we were leaving work Howard commented on the sunset ( he knows I am a sucker for sunsets) and he asked me if I didn't miss FL just a teensy bit?? Replied in the negative, that there was nothing left in FL that appealed to me other than my friends. I was glad I moved away and told him as much as I loved hanging around with everyone, I was itching to get back home.
He is the forever FL boy, just not getting why anyone would want to leave. Guess I am the always optimistic Denver chick, wondering why everyone doesn't live here and who in their right mind would want to live in FL. He's meant to live in FL. Not me.
Weds night was fun, out with Howard, Renee, my associate at work and Aree and her new 'friend'. Had a great time at my FAVE restaurant Dada in Delray Beach but by the end of dinner the last 6 nights had caught up with me and I was about to drop.
Made it home by midnite, packed, and was out the door at 6 the next morning, off to the airport. Seriously, was so glad to leave that I got tears in my eyes as my plane took off.
Was back in work mode within 45 minutes of landing and spent the rest of Thursday catching up on sleep.
Not sure when I'll be back to FL...or if I ever will. Corporate is thinking of getting all us remotes together back at the Mothership for training at least once a year. I think I could handle it once a year, provided they schedule it in Winter or Spring. Maybe. For no more than one week tops.
Looking back, the trip wasn't as bad as it could have been, even tho the stress of going back caused two GERD episodes. If anything, it just reaffirmed that I made the right decision for the right reason.
Denver's my home sweet home and I'm never leaving.
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