A Tale of Two Seasons - and Why I Hate Bye Weeks

I know I mentioned it before - I love football. 

Two teams in particular I follow are the
1). Green Bay Packers
and
2). Florida Gators

It's hard to believe now but in mid- October both teams were 6-0.

And then they had their bye weeks!

The Gators actually went 4-2 after their bye week, ended with a 10-2 record, and made it to the SEC championship game. But those wins were ugly including a 9-7 victory over lowly Vanderbilt and they needed overtime to beat the never-heard-of Florida Atlantic Owls.  Their offense was about the ugliest I have seen and they scored only 24 points in their last 3 games.  

However...

The Packers offense has been equally hideous.  Since the bye they have gone 4-6 and, if not for a Hail Mary against Detroit, would have been 3-7.  I almost wish they had been 3-7 and spared us the embarrassment and frustration of watching them in the playoff game Sunday. 

Here is an uglier stat: 

In the 3 seasons 2012, 2013, and 2014, they played 8 games in which they scored under 20 points.  And I must add that 4 of those 8 games were in the 2013 season when Aaron Rodgers was injured and could not play. So basically, they have had 4 games in 3 years (that Rodgers has played) that they scored under 20 points.  

The 2015 season has seen them play 6 games where they failed to score over 20 points. And even uglier than that, 5 of those 6 have come in the 10 games since their bye week.  

It really seems impossible to believe that at one point both of these teams were undefeated.

Oh well, there is always next year. 

Pure Magic Game One

A few weeks ago, C.J. found a deal that included tickets to 6 Orlando Magic games for $50.00.  It was a deal we couldn't pass up.  

Game one was tonight and even though they did not win, it was still a lot of fun.

Our seats were in the very top row so this was our view of the court

I was fine with that.  

The game was very strange. The Magic began the game not shooting well. Indiana built an immediate lead that led to early time out by the Magic.

I think at one point right after the timeout, the score was 11-2.

But then the Magic picked it up and actually had the lead at half time.   

The third quarter was again not good and Indiana once again built a good lead.

Things seemed pretty hopeless at this point. 

But then...back to back three pointers made it an interesting game

The crowd was really into it at this point

The referee ruined the comeback though by calling a bogus foul on a three pointer and it was all downhill from there.  

Final Score!

Game two is Saturday.  

Eighth Time is the Charm but It Was Madness

Zack got two prescriptions as we left the ER yesterday morning.  One, Zithromax, was for the strep throat and the other, Tessalon (Generic: Benzonatate), is supposed to be a cough sup present.  But it has never worked for anyone that I know.  Jon was prescribed this right before he was diagnosed with pneumonia and it did not work for him at all!  But since I don't  pay anything for medications, I went ahead and had it filled anyway.  

That, in itself was not an easy task.  In a city of 255,500 people with an additional 200,000 on vacation right now, you would think you could find an open pharmacy?????  

I first tried at 8:30 yesterday morning on our way home from the ER.  We stopped at CVS - closed...went down the street to Walgreens - closed.  

I left for work early thinking surely a pharmacy would be open around 10:00.  I went to CVS - closed...went down the street to Walgreens - closed. 

I wanted to avoid having to do this chore after work when I was sure I'd be crazy exhausted but I had no choice.  I worked 11-6 and stopped at CVS on the way home - closed...went down the street to Walgreens - closed.  Apparently they had been open from 11-6 which worked just perfectly for me (*insert sarcasm).  

And not one single person there could tell me if there was an operating 24 hour pharmacy open in the city.  

All I could do was wait for today.  

I showed up at CVS at 11:10 - closed!!!!!!!  

Went down the street to Walgreens and finally success.  

Complete Madness

It was a Coffee Kind of Day

Wow! Five down, tomorrow off, and then 2 more to go and I am feeling great!  Well, mostly great.  Today I was very, very, very, very, very, very (you get the idea) tired.  

I stayed up too late last night watching a movie and then, once I was in bed, it took a while to turn my brain off and fall asleep. The last time I looked at the clock was at 1:55.  

That wasn't a big deal because I didn't have to work until 11:00 so I I had set my alarm for 9:30.  Instead, Zack woke me up about 5:15 complaining about not feeling well and wanted me take him to the ER.  My first thought was, "go back to bed and I'll call the doctor when the office is open."  

Then I remember it was Saturday - and that I had to work - so we got into the car and went to the closest ER.  

In short, he was diagnosed as having strep throat and a respiratory infection.  We got home about 8:45 and Zack went straight to bed while I started getting ready for work.  

Speaking of work, we had an interesting and scary situation.  Yesterday, when I arrived, most of Toon Lagoon was roped off and evacuated and the police were there. My first thought was a bomb threat but what actually happened is that a person who was a contract worker at Universal, got into an altercation with someone (not a guest) and ended up stabbing that person in the neck.  Today we were told that the victim had surgery this morning and was in critical condition and the guy was charged with attempted murder.  Crazy situation.  

I worked from 11:00-6:00.  I really can't believe I'm still awake...I won't be for long though.  By the time I got home from work Zack had a fever (102*) that he had not had this morning in the ER.  Hopefully, I don't get it.  

2015 YEAR IN REVIEW

Regardless of the fact that I live an incredibly boring life, I am going to attempt to review my 2016 to, I guess, highlight how boring my life is.  

January

We returned to Wisconsin from our Christmas in Florida and I had a difficult time missing everyone

My D-I-V-O-R-C-E was finalized and I became a person I never wanted or thought that I would be. 

I had the privilege of watching the Packers experience the worst collapse in history to miss their opportunity to go to the Super Bowl (they certainly aren't getting there this year) 

Zack turned 16


February

If the Packers couldn't make it to the Super Bowl, at least the Seahawks didn't win.  

In Gator basketball, we endured the heartache of one too many buzzer beaters

The weather finally took it's toll on me by the end of February, which is normal. 

March

March started out on a fantastic note with a visit from Jon

Then ended on a bad note when he was diagnosed with pneumonia in the ER

I received my new doll which I still haven't been able to part with...but I'm getting close 

April
I took Zack on a vacation to Mt Rushmore and the Rocky Mountains
http://livingwithafullhouse.blogspot.com/2015/04/west-trip-day-one-and-two.html
http://livingwithafullhouse.blogspot.com/2015/04/west-trip-day-three.html
http://livingwithafullhouse.blogspot.com/2015/04/west-trip-day-four.html
http://livingwithafullhouse.blogspot.com/2015/04/west-trip-day-five.html
http://livingwithafullhouse.blogspot.com/2015/04/west-trip-day-six.html
http://livingwithafullhouse.blogspot.com/2015/04/west-trip-day-seven.html
http://livingwithafullhouse.blogspot.com/2015/04/west-trip-day-eight.html
http://livingwithafullhouse.blogspot.com/2015/04/west-trip-day-nine.html
http://livingwithafullhouse.blogspot.com/2015/04/west-trip-final-day.html

We spent a great day in Madison with our friends

May

We celebrated Mother's Day while my mom was visiting

I put a deposit down on an apartment in Orlando

C.J. also came for a visit and to help with the move. I had a very full apartment in May.

I said goodbye to the best job I ever had, at the best school, teaching some of the best kids in the world.  It was the best!

We took one more trip to Iron Mountain

And stopped for a last visit to Lambeau Field (for a while at least)

We attended the graduation dinner and ceremony of a very special friend

We packed up to move to Orlando
http://livingwithafullhouse.blogspot.com/2015/05/moving-day-3.html


And arrived in our "paradise" 

June

We settled into our new apartment

I bought a new car - which I later traded in 

Zack enjoyed some night swims - until they started invoking the "pool closes at 8:00" rule..which is kind of dumb in the summer when it's not even dark yet at 8:00 and still as hot as Hades. 

We enjoyed some Universal evenings

Saw Jurassic World in Imax

I was hired at Universal Studios

July

We enjoyed many more evenings at Universal (usually once a week)

I began working at the Comic Strip Cafe in Islands of Adventure

Celebrated C.J.'s birthday

Sadly, we lost a very dear friend

August

We went to Sea World for the first time

We also went to Animal Kingdom

I experienced one of the most frustrating days of my life trying to get Zack registered for school and still a week later he was not registered.  I finally decided to do home school.

September 

Zack and I went to the Magic Kingdom

I purchased a weekday annual pass for Zack and me


I was able to make one of Zack's dreams come true by taking him to a football game in the Swamp. We were lucky they pulled out the win.

We celebrated mom's birthday

I experienced my first night of Halloween Horror Nights. Little did I realize then, how much I would fall in love with it. 

And Gator nation rejoiced an undefeated September 

October

Halloween Horror Nights continued and I loved it!

C.J. and I went to EPCOT for the International Food and Wine Festival

We had a visit from my aunt and uncle and went to the Magic Kingdom with them

My poor baby was diagnosed with a severe skin infection

November 

We started the month by saying goodbye to Halloween Horror Nights....sob sob

We celebrated Jon's birthday

We went to Tampa Bay for a Lightning game

I spent most of the month dealing with car issues until Chevrolet came to my rescue

We celebrated my birthday with the longest drive to Daytona Beach ever

December 

Zack and I went to Disney Studios for the Osborne Spectacle of Lights

C.J., Zack, and I went to Sea World to check out their Christmas decorations

Mom and dad came down to Orlando and we went to Universal Studios

We spent a family night at Dave and Busters

I got to see Mannheim Steamroller at Universal

Zack and I went to Gainesville for a Gator's basketball game

We experienced a warm December and a record breaking end of December.  5 out of the last 6 days in December Orlando set record high temps. 

After a miserable Christmas Eve, we had a nice family Christmas Day 

Cannot wait to see what 2016 has in store for me.  

Happy New Year

Two Down Five to Go

One cannot comprehend the number of people in Orlando this week.  If I wasn't here to witness it firsthand, I don't think I would believe it.  Work has been crazy. In a way busy is better.  The time goes so much quicker when we are busy.  And overall things run pretty smoothly. The kitchen staff all but ignores their order screens and just make a ton of everything and put it under the heat lamps for the grabbing.  BUT, there are always people who need to be difficult and have a "special order" that requires time to prepare.  
Here are some of my favorites of the day:

- always one of my favorites is people who want their cheeseburgers plain.  If they are ordered that way then we give it to them plain. But there are always a certain number of people who, when the cheeseburger is placed in front of them, ask for it plain.  It is served with an open bun and with lettuce, tomato, and pickles.  If you want the burger plain all that is required is to grab those three items with your pincer grasp and throw them out.  But you would be surprised the number of people who make us remove the burger from the tray and haul it back to the cooks so that they can remove those garnishes with their pincer grasp.  One of these times I would love to just remove the stuff right in front of them and throw it away to show them how easy it is to do yourself - but, of course, I don't and never would.  

- Had an order for a coffee today but when I served it the conversation went something like this:
Lady: "Oh, no.  That is not what I wanted."
Me: "Okay, what did you want? Did you want tea or hot chocolate?"
Lady: "No. I wanted a latte.  You fill the bottom 1/4 of the cup with coffee and the rest with milk."  
She must have us confused with Starbucks. 
My team captain was standing next to me and we both stood there in disbelief. After a couple minutes we just decided to give her the full cup of coffee, a bottle of milk, and an empty cup so she could make it herself. 

- Had an order for two cheese pizzas today. Our pizzas are the size of a paper plate and are cut into four equal slices.  Except, for some unknown reason, this lady did not want her pizza cut! So nevermind that there were seven cheese pizzas for the immediate taking, it took 5 minutes to cook new pizzas for her. 

- Had an order for a fish sandwich.  Except the sandwich and the fries each had to be cooked in separate oil.  Now, I understand it was probably for either food allergies or religious reasons and I would never begrudge anybody either of those things. It's just frustrating when, again, there are baskets of fish for the taking but I have to wait 10 minutes for a special order.  

Tomorrow off and then right back at it. 

Orlando Forecast, Shopping, Driving, and Work

Our forecast for the next 5 days is temperatures between 84-87* before cooling down to the average temperature of 73* by Friday.  I have only had my air conditioning off 1 day since moving here at the end of May.  If I had to pay for air conditioning then I would be telling a different story but since power is included in my rent...why not?  

I HAD to do my grocery shopping last night.  These images are from Google but they accurately depict what the Orlando Wal-Mart looked like. 

One young (maybe 12) girl passed me and said, "it looks like it's Black Friday."  True Dat!

Then there were the two times I was forced to slam on my brakes to avoid accidents on the way home.  Both times the drivers were switching lanes at the last minute without even looking first.  For the next week the only time I am driving is to and from work! 

Tomorrow I begin a stretch of working 7 out of the next 9 days.  After two months of working only a handful of times, I am grateful for the hours and am hoping that with the South American tourist season stretching into January I will be able to get some consistent hours.