November 24th – 29th
Old Spice Classic – Feast Week Presented by Lowe’s – ESPN Family of Networks
Flew down early on Tuesday morning – looking forward to a day by the pool in sunny Orlando! We were staying at a new hotel this year; not “on property” (of the Mouse House).
It went just almost as well as my day in the sun last Thursday in Tampa.
Landed just after 11am. But my luggage did not.
This has happened before a few times – it’s always on the next flight from Atlanta. There is one just about every hour. So I inquired at the baggage office – there was nothing in my file other than I had checked it in, in Columbus. But the agent agreed it was likely on the next flight that was about to land.
Nope.
The next flight was going to land in 2 hours.
So I headed out to pick up some stuff at Publix and then on to the hotel to check in.
I really wasn’t too angry. It was totally overcast and there was not a chance of getting a single ray of sunshine.
A flight was landing around 2:30, so I planned on being back at the airport by 3. They do deliver late luggage – but they had already lost it once today, I wasn’t counting on them to deliver it to the correct hotel!
I called a little after 2… my luggage had been found!
It was indeed on the flight with me that landed in Orlando hours ago – they just forgot to take it off the plane. So it wasn’t discovered until the plane got back to Atlanta.
It was due to land just before 4pm.
$7 in tolls & parking later, I had my coveted bags!
Got unpacked and “settled”. Then headed out to dinner with the other operator on this show, Ben. We have done this event since the beginning.
We went to a Brazilian steakhouse. It was of course, fabulous! I ate too much of the salad bar and didn’t have enough room for all the filet mignon that I had wanted.
Wednesday, our set day, was good. There are always issues since we have 2 machines – but we manage to solve them! (Usually Ben does).
This year we were thrown a curve ball…. Due to budget cuts, we could not have a B Unit for the 2nd Duet. They looked into an office trailer, a common rental for ESPN Compounds. However, the Mouse House has numerous new rules in effect due to the 2 deaths that have occurred on property over the past year. In order for us to have an office trailer, it was going to require numerous permits and was going to have to be made hurricane proof (ie: strapped to the ground), thus making it even more expensive than a B Unit.
So, they rented a RV!
What?
Apparently there were no any Mouse rules about a RV.
Yes, the 2nd Duet was set up at the dining room table of a RV.
It was pretty bizarro!
On Thursday, I did the 12 & 2:30pm games.
They went fine. Afterwards, my AP, Katie and I, stayed for a few hours to prep for our Friday games.
My parents drove up on Thursday afternoon with a cooler full of Thanksgiving dinner leftovers and were waiting for me in my room when I got back. Yum!
It was a quick evening since it was after 8:30 when I got to the hotel.
Friday, again the 12 & 2:30pm games. This time we left shortly after our games though, which was nice!
Upon returning to the hotel, my parents and I walked around the hotel and then had drinks at the bar. Then back to the room for more turkey!
Saturday, my parents headed to Epcot as I headed to work. There were no games today, however, Katie and I needed to prepare for our Sunday games.
I met up with my parents around 3pm at Epcot.
We strolled around Germany, China & Mexico.
China was fun – they had an exhibit of the Terracotta Warriors which was one of our favorites while in China. It was cool to look at these fake ones, knowing we had seen the real deal!
Old Spice Classic – Feast Week Presented by Lowe’s – ESPN Family of Networks
Flew down early on Tuesday morning – looking forward to a day by the pool in sunny Orlando! We were staying at a new hotel this year; not “on property” (of the Mouse House).
It went just almost as well as my day in the sun last Thursday in Tampa.
Landed just after 11am. But my luggage did not.
This has happened before a few times – it’s always on the next flight from Atlanta. There is one just about every hour. So I inquired at the baggage office – there was nothing in my file other than I had checked it in, in Columbus. But the agent agreed it was likely on the next flight that was about to land.
Nope.
The next flight was going to land in 2 hours.
So I headed out to pick up some stuff at Publix and then on to the hotel to check in.
I really wasn’t too angry. It was totally overcast and there was not a chance of getting a single ray of sunshine.
A flight was landing around 2:30, so I planned on being back at the airport by 3. They do deliver late luggage – but they had already lost it once today, I wasn’t counting on them to deliver it to the correct hotel!
I called a little after 2… my luggage had been found!
It was indeed on the flight with me that landed in Orlando hours ago – they just forgot to take it off the plane. So it wasn’t discovered until the plane got back to Atlanta.
It was due to land just before 4pm.
$7 in tolls & parking later, I had my coveted bags!
Got unpacked and “settled”. Then headed out to dinner with the other operator on this show, Ben. We have done this event since the beginning.
We went to a Brazilian steakhouse. It was of course, fabulous! I ate too much of the salad bar and didn’t have enough room for all the filet mignon that I had wanted.
Wednesday, our set day, was good. There are always issues since we have 2 machines – but we manage to solve them! (Usually Ben does).
This year we were thrown a curve ball…. Due to budget cuts, we could not have a B Unit for the 2nd Duet. They looked into an office trailer, a common rental for ESPN Compounds. However, the Mouse House has numerous new rules in effect due to the 2 deaths that have occurred on property over the past year. In order for us to have an office trailer, it was going to require numerous permits and was going to have to be made hurricane proof (ie: strapped to the ground), thus making it even more expensive than a B Unit.
So, they rented a RV!
What?
Apparently there were no any Mouse rules about a RV.
Yes, the 2nd Duet was set up at the dining room table of a RV.
It was pretty bizarro!
On Thursday, I did the 12 & 2:30pm games.
They went fine. Afterwards, my AP, Katie and I, stayed for a few hours to prep for our Friday games.
My parents drove up on Thursday afternoon with a cooler full of Thanksgiving dinner leftovers and were waiting for me in my room when I got back. Yum!
It was a quick evening since it was after 8:30 when I got to the hotel.
Friday, again the 12 & 2:30pm games. This time we left shortly after our games though, which was nice!
Upon returning to the hotel, my parents and I walked around the hotel and then had drinks at the bar. Then back to the room for more turkey!
Saturday, my parents headed to Epcot as I headed to work. There were no games today, however, Katie and I needed to prepare for our Sunday games.
I met up with my parents around 3pm at Epcot.
We strolled around Germany, China & Mexico.
China was fun – they had an exhibit of the Terracotta Warriors which was one of our favorites while in China. It was cool to look at these fake ones, knowing we had seen the real deal!
Then headed back to the hotel. I needed to pack and get to bed… as 5am was fast approaching!
Even though I had enough sleep, Katie and I struggled thru our first game. Going on the air at 10a is never easy.
We rallied in game 2 though!
I have to say that my disposition has never been better on this event. I always end up angry and I truly believe it was because we didn’t stay at that dreadful hotel! No one told me to “Have A Magical Day” – wow!
I left the compound around 3:30 and headed to the airport. Ugh. Traveling on Sunday after Thanksgiving is never fun!!
But this time I had a companion…. Madison was coming home with me.
The last time we flew together was when he was about 6 months old. Wow – much easier now! I didn’t have to lay down newspaper in the airport bathroom for him! He was surprisingly heavy though in my shoulder bag.
Am looking forward to having him back in Columbus, in the house I bought for him.
(We were about to get evicted from our apartment due to his behavior issues and separation anxiety when I was at work)
There is a temporary spot awaiting him in the living room. A little shrine of sorts. Figure he can rest there until I come up with another spot. Maybe next to his sister, Pokey, on the armoire?
Even though I had enough sleep, Katie and I struggled thru our first game. Going on the air at 10a is never easy.
We rallied in game 2 though!
I have to say that my disposition has never been better on this event. I always end up angry and I truly believe it was because we didn’t stay at that dreadful hotel! No one told me to “Have A Magical Day” – wow!
I left the compound around 3:30 and headed to the airport. Ugh. Traveling on Sunday after Thanksgiving is never fun!!
But this time I had a companion…. Madison was coming home with me.
The last time we flew together was when he was about 6 months old. Wow – much easier now! I didn’t have to lay down newspaper in the airport bathroom for him! He was surprisingly heavy though in my shoulder bag.
Am looking forward to having him back in Columbus, in the house I bought for him.
(We were about to get evicted from our apartment due to his behavior issues and separation anxiety when I was at work)
There is a temporary spot awaiting him in the living room. A little shrine of sorts. Figure he can rest there until I come up with another spot. Maybe next to his sister, Pokey, on the armoire?
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