kevinandlindsay.net

My wife and I just returned from our second real vacation since we got married. We went on a cruise from Mobile, AL to Progresso and Cozumel, Mexico. It was five nights of being waited on left and right, good and abundant food, and enjoying time with my wife and some friends. The following are some of the highlights of the trip.

Our first stop was Progresso where Lindsay and I took a tour bus to the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza. We got to see the Temple to Kulkukan, the ball court, a cenote (opening to an underwater cave) and lots of other amazing structures. The site is huge - over 6 square miles. Unfortunately, because of it’s size (an the impending departure of the ship) we didn’t have time to see the whole thing. I really wanted to see the observatory but didn’t have time. An unexpected treat at Chichen Itza was a lady that had an espresso stand. We paid $4 (plus $2 for tip) for a 12oz Americano and a 16oz Cappuccino. She did a wonderful job grinding, tamping, pulling the shots and building the drink. They were two great beverages and the ruins were amazing.

Our next stop was the island town of Cozumel. We joined our friends Travis and Leah for a Segway ride to a beach. If you haven’t seen a Segway, I can only describe it as a really cool horseless chariot. I have included the picture in our picture gallery for reference. Since you stand between two wheels, it looks like it might be hard to balance. However, since Lindsay didn’t fall over, you can see it takes very little balance. There is a gyroscope inside that constantly compensates to keep you upright. If you want to go forward, just lean forward. If you want to stop or go backwards, just lean back. It also turns left or right when you shift the handlebars. It was a very cool ride. There was only one mishap. I got up some pretty good speed (8mph) and then I thought I would see how fast I could stop. I stopped pretty fast, but I didn’t realize that Lindsay was keeping up with me and she didn’t have time to react. Like a pro she swerved off into the ditch and rolled clear of the wreckage. It was really neat to see. She’s fine and even got a good laugh out of it. We finished off our day in Cozumel by eating at a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant our Segway guide suggested and doing a little shopping.

We had a couple of days at sea to enjoy the sun, boat, and good food. Unfortunately, my wife didn’t get to fully enjoy the cruise. On the second day she picked up Viral Meningitis (not the lethal one) and it really worked on her. I am so proud she was able to do the previously mentioned activities while being so sick. She was a real trooper.

All in all, we had a pretty good time and, hopefully, one day we will take another cruise and we will both be able to enjoy it.

K><>

It has been nearly four months since I began my work with Starbucks. While my work at the big green can be described in many different ways, rarely can it be called boring. One singular area in which there is often something that forcefully grabs my attention is the drivethru. Originally I planned to compile some of the most notable events that have occurred in the drivethru over the past four months. However, out of a desire for some amount of brevity, I have decided to start this series and occasionally share a notable event.

Starbucks Is On My Diet
Occasionally (rarely), a health conscious patron with ask about the sugar, fat, or caloric content of a particular beverage. For their benefit and illumination, Starbucks offers a nutritional guide available upon request. Using it, a barista can quickly reference any requested nutritional information.

One evening I heard the telltale “ding” of a customer at the drivethru order board. I cheerfully greeted the person and was immediately asked by a lady, “How many calories are in the Light Mocha Frappuccino?” I stated that I did not know but would be happy to check in our nutrition guide. Upon several minutes of searching for the guide, I determined that we were out of them and reported as much to the customer. The lady responded, “Well how many are in the regular Mocha Frappuccino?” I then informed her that I did not know that either since that particular information would be contained in the same nutritional guide that I had just told her was missing. Having considered all her low calorie options she said, “OK, I’ll have a Venti (our largest size) Regular Mocha Frappuccino with extra whip and mocha syrup on top.

Now, I could go on to tell you that the third largest person I have ever seen pulled up to the window, but that’s not the issue here. What struck me, and perhaps you, as odd is how a potentially health conscious person goes from considering their low-calorie options to the highest calorie alternative. Oh well, I guess if you’re going to have a “free day” on your diet you might as well go all out. I suppose some credit has to be given for even considering the “light version.”

By the way, that particular beverage contains 700+ calories.

K><>

In the Fall of 2003, the popular haven for weary travelers and vacationing families, Holiday Inn, publically announced that it wanted to give amnesty to anyone who had ever borrowed one of their towels. They invited them to bring their towel back and as a sign of good will offered a limited edition souvenir towel in return. It was a beautiful publicity move that brought the business loads of free, positive attention.

Now, four years later, I would like to make a similar gesture. My motives are not for publicity or positive attention. The truth is, I just want my DVD’s back. Please.

Before we move forward with this humble plea, let me tell you what prompted this. Over the past couple of months I would be sitting at the house talking with some friends (different ones each time) and a reference to a movie would come up. I would say something like, Oh, I have that movie. Let me get it out and cue that up. I would walk to the DVD rack and begin looking through the collection, (it’ss pretty easy since my wife alphabetized them) then I would become disappointed and say something like, “Where is my copy of Killer Klowns from Outer Space VIII?” or, “Who has my DVD of Inside Ishtar: The Making of a Bad Movie?” This would kill the previous conversation about such and such movie and begin a thread about the frustration of loosing track of what we lend to who.

So, I have compiled a list of the DVD’s I know I am missing with the following plea: Please bring them back. In return for your good will, you will receive my heartfelt gratitude and a popsicle. The following list is in no particular order.
Sean of the Dead (edited by Clean Films)
Transformers Animated Movie
Daredevil
Spider-Man (please!!)
Clockstoppers
Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
The Sixth Sense
Without a Paddle
A Series of Unfortunate Events

OK, so when it comes down to it, being down a few flicks isn’t that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things. As my friend Nona often says, “it’s all going to burn anyway.” It’s good to keep some perspective.

K><>

Saturday, on the way back home from Flugtag, my wife and I got off at a particular exit to grab a bite to eat. Upon arriving at the intersection from the exit, there was a man holding a cardboard sign that read, “Homeless. Please help.” Then I noticed that just across the street, on the other side of this intersection was a guy holding a large plastic advertisement sign that read, “NEW HOMES! Brand new subdivision this way.” (there was an arrow at the bottom of the sign.) I thought to myself, “Here is one guy needing a place to live and there is one guy with a bunch of houses needing someone to live in them. These two guys should get together.”

K><>