Buc-ee's, 145 Degree Seafood Boil, Sprouts Farmers Market & My 40th Birthday

I realized the last time I did one of these, it was proclaimed by myself that the next one would be out by the end of February. Honestly, I have not felt like doing one of these until now. Next week will be another one of these; that is because there will be a few things to discuss. Among other things, yesterday I received the first of two vaccines (Pfizer, to be exact). That went fine but more details will be provided next time.

To go in chronological order, I'll mention that last month my mom's best friend visited for a little more than a week. It was nice for me, dad and her to visit various restaurants. Not all of them enforced a mask policy and one had NO employees wearing masks, but as I know not everyone will agree with me and my opinion on such things... I'll just say that there's hardly been any issue with me wearing a mask for all these months. Thankfully the decision I made to visit Universal Studios CityWalk on Fat Tuesday did not turn out to be a disaster (even if Moe's was the restaurant chosen as most of the other places were booked solid) as everyone liked the food and liked seeing what that area looks like now.

On the 22^nd of February I turned 40; it's amazing to me too. For the day, my main activity was visiting Disney Springs and checking out two locations that had just opened: an M&M's store and an Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew. Purchases were made at both and the latter makes rather tasty donuts. After that there's been plenty of dull moments, although that wasn't a big deal to me. At least I can recommend a local restaurant that recently opened: 145 Degree Seafood Boil. I've ordered shrimp from there more than once as One time I was at the Animal Kingdom and that was neat but other than that, the last week or so was when some interesting things happened. For the first time I went to a Sprouts Farmers Market, an obvious competitor to Whole Foods. It also reminded me of Lucky's Market, a place I wish hadn't gone all but defunct.

Last week, a day was spent going on my longest road trip in what had to be about a year and a half: to Daytona Beach as I visited the just-opened Bucee's gas station and massive convenience store. It's a cult favorite in Texas and now has locations in both Daytona and St. Augustine. I've known of it for a few years so I wanted to visit. Finally I was able to and the sheer amount of different products offered was staggering: some sporting goods, various bric a brac home goods (such as those signs that some people hang around the house), clothing, and more than just food & drinks... there are several stations where food is offered: brisket, various sandwiches, fudge, chicken tenders-which I had and they were acceptable-and even various kolaches. Various items were purchased while I was there, including incredibly cheap gasoline. That wasn't the only thing I did in the area but it was definitely the highlight. Like I said, I'll be back soon with some new adventures to share.

New Restaurants, Epcot, The Marksman & the 2021 Doldrums

I figured it was finally the time to stop putting this off and give a recap of what I've done since Christmas Eve. On December 25 a Christmas meal was had at a relative's place and once again that was nice; the first Christmas without mom was sad but I tried to make the best out of it. As always, I stayed in on NYE and the night of January 1 Wonder Woman 1984 was seen... on the big screen. The first one I have seen so I might as well check out the sequel, right? Well, 1984 was really bad and had a laughably juvenile story.

As of late I have gone to a few restaurants new to me, usually to eat at but one was carry-out. Let me mention them:

* Piesano's is a new place in town; their pizza was fine.

* Juicy & Crab: It is a seafood place in Kissimmee. Their grub was pretty good.

* I went to a Fuzzy's Taco Shop. It is a bar/restaurant and the place was WAY too loud. The food wasn't anything special either so no thank you.

* Last weekend I ate twice at Sunset Walk in Kissimmee. Saturday was BENTO, as I've never had a poke bowl before. Mine was white rice with shrimp and teriyaki chicken; personally, the rice tasted off and the chicken had too much fat. While the shrimp was fine, it's not a place I'd go to again. I will try other places that have poke bowls. Sunday was Lizzie's Memphis Style Barbecue; that was more my taste.

2021 so far has had its ups & downs. Some days were rotten due to various small things that happened. One of them was when I went to Mecum in Kissimmee. Way too many people were walking around without a mask on and even if it was an open-air event, everyone was required to wear one so I couldn't tell you why this wasn't enforced. That made me hot for a number of reasons and subsequently that was my least favorite time at that event. I am glad that later in the year there are exciting plans in store; only after they happen will I discuss them but they will be nice breaks from the norm.

The only other event of note was my seeing the movie The Marksman on the big screen one day. It was a typical standard Liam Neeson action drama which at least was competent. I'll close this out by mentioning that a few days ago I went to Epcot to renew my Disney Annual Pass. There's still a lot of construction at the park; once it's all completed there will be much that will look different; I don't know if it'll be “better” but different, that I know will be true. Late this month I shall return; my birthday is around the corner and that is one a few things I know I'll be discussing.

The Godfather, Part III, Senor Frog's, The COVID Blues & Happy Holiday Wishes

As promised, here is the last thing I'll be writing in this miserable year of 2020. Normally, right now I'd be in the Midwest on the customary vacation to see various members of the family. However, the pandemic is so bad it was the prudent decision to not make the long journey this year; at least most of those family members were seen back in August when mom was buried. Earlier in the year I mentioned how 2020 was awful even before the pandemic as mom was sick starting in January. Other prudent decisions were made: another yearly tradition was attending the auto show in Orlando at the Convention Center, where many manufacturers displayed their new product. Believe it or not they held it last weekend. Due to The Plague being especially bad in Florida and the thing being indoors, it seemed like a bad idea for me to attend. Mecum in Kissimmee is early next year and as I would never have to go in any building if I did not want to... expect me there.

There isn't too much that's happened in the past few weeks. The Chicago Bears took an even worse nosedive than what I expected when I mentioned back in late October that their good record (at the time) was a real misnomer. They'll likely end up 8-8 once the season ends-good thing I hardly paid attention to them. I did go to the cinema more than once-the highlight there was seeing the new edit of 1990's The Godfather, Part III. I never hated it like many people do, even if the movie is not a classic like the first two. This 2020 cut is a little bit better than what was shown 30 years ago-I am glad that since 2010 all three of those movies I've been able to see theatrically.

I've been to more than one restaurant-Senor Frogs will be specifically mentioned as I had never been to one before. It's a loud tourist sort of place (no surprise as it's on International Drive) and it may be a place only visited once... that doesn't mean the food was bad. At least the burrito I had tasted fine, but it's priced like a tourist sort of restaurant. 2021, one thing I should do is visit more local establishments in the area as there is no shortage of those.

To close this out, I will wish everyone a Happy Holidays and a better 2021 for everyone-it couldn't possibly be much worse for me. On the other side of the coin, I really shouldn't complain: several people I know “got the COVID” recently and another was in a car accident-thankfully everyone ended up fine. Let's all hope next year isn't the dumpster fire this year was.

Thanksgiving, The Hunt for Red October, Space Mountain & Shrimp Dinners

There is not too much to write about since the last time I did one of these. Due to how “the plague” has been ravaging much of the country-Florida being one of the hotspots-it has been wise to not be out all that often unless I am at a place like a grocery store or Walmart to get some essentials. Of course I still once in awhile see a fool without a mask on in a grocery store or Walmart; it just makes me shake my head. Don't worry, I do not confront them... instead, walking away as far away from them as possible is what happens. Anyhow, Thanksgiving was for certain different this year than any previous year in my life... there is no complaints as it was still went with family and that's the important thing.

Otherwise, among the things I can discuss here, there is not too much else to say. One afternoon was spent at the Magic Kingdom; I have an annual pass-thankfully it won't renew until two months from now-and it might as well be used. As they temperature screen everyone and rigidly enforce the mask rule, there were not too many worries about being at WDW. The crowd was not heavy so Space Mountain Early last month I saw The Hunt for Red October on the big screen as it was a tribute to the late Sean Connery. Viewing it that way was a good time. Last week, I went to a Joe's Crab Shack as it's been too long since a shrimp dinner was had. It was good and the place being the opposite of busy was fine with me in terms of health concerns.

Right before Christmas I'll return and post something new. There actually is more than one activity planned for the rest of the year so there will be things to discuss. Hopefully by then I'll be feeling like it is the Christmas season.

Halloween, Total Recall, Psycho, Gaelic Sports & BubbaQue's BBQ

I wanted to write one of these before the month concluded as after tomorrow, Facebook won't have a Notes function any longer. Never fear... I've always concurrently posted these on a Blogspot page so in the future, I'll link these in a Facebook post whenever I do one of these.

The past few weeks have not been too eventful; at least I've been able to see a few films on the big screen. One was the original Total Recall-that movie is great so it was awesome seeing it theatrically for the first time. Another was the original Psycho-I've been lucky in having seen that theatrically a few times now. There was also The Nightmare Before Christmas, which was only my second time seeing it... and both were revival theatrical screenings. Another night was a new one-Honest Thief. Not the best Liam Neeson motion picture of its time but still fine and I've seen far worse starring him. Before seeing Psycho, I stopped at a Florida chain I was not even familiar with until recently: BubbaQue's BBQ. I now regret not having gone to one before as they have decent food and especially in this time, it's nice to support local businesses. Another place I visited was in Kissimmee one day: Miami Grill. In the past when I was near Miami one afternoon I ate there under its former name Miami Subs & Grill; they also have decent food.

Concerning sports, I won't list all my opinions of those currently in action or just concluded... I can't be mad that the Dodgers won the World Series as I know someone who is a big fan of the team. The NFL, that's hardly been paid attention to. The league is still not fun to watch anymore and it is pure luck that the Chicago Bears are 5-2... I am sure they will lose their next few games. Via YouTube I finally got to see the Irish sister sports of Gaelic football and hurling. I now wish those two could be seen on American television as they both are a lot of fun from the few games I streamed. At least I was able to recently watch the championship games of the Australian Football League (that's Australian rules football) and the rugby league they have in the Land Down Under.

While the Halloween season does seem different from previous years, I still have done my best to feel in the proper mood; at least I've watched plenty of horror movies. I will return sometime in November.

Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway, Tremors, 42 & Mountain Dew Maui Burst

I've been thinking of awhile of doing another one of these; I am sure everyone can understand how I am still in a malaise due to everything that has gone on in 2020 and how everything is just different now. The fact that as of late several people I know have had COVID scares (all of them tested negative, thankfully) and it's easy to feel “blah” sometimes. Still, I do try my best... also, while nothing was said by me to this person, I was appalled recently when I was in a Publix grocery store and not only did a mom not wear a mask, so didn't her two small children. I will list some highlights:

Last month I did go to Walt Disney World for the first time since February. It was at Hollywood Studios so I could finally go on the attraction that replaced The Great Movie Ride (Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway)-it was a good time and I enjoyed the look & feel of the attraction. Sometime later this month I'll return to the park. Pro tip: apparently it is a part of the collective unconscious that now you need to make a reservation before going to any of the WDW parks. I certainly never heard that beforehand; it led to an awkward situation at the gate but a nice lady employee helped me there.

On another note, since the last time I wrote I had several sodas new to me. This includes Crush Sour Patch Kids Berry-thankfully not that sour-Mountain Dew VooDew II, and Mountain Dew Maui Burst... actually introduced late last year at Dollar General stores but I never could locate it then... and a few weeks ago stumbled upon it at a different Dollar General from the ones I tried at the time. Nothing new when it comes to trying new restaurants, although last weekend I went by Oviedo so for the first time in a long while I had Mooyah, which has decent fast food. The only other thing to mention is that I went to the cineplex a few times since the last I wrote. The first highlight was 42, the 2013 sports biopic they brought back to pay tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman-that was pretty good. I am glad I finally saw that as his death was as shocking to me as it was to everyone else. The other one was Tremors; while it is melancholy that mom would have found it great that I would be able to see it on the big screen, it was still an experience I appreciated-it's a movie I've loved since I was a kid. Hopefully cinemas can survive the pandemic but that is definitely uncertain with how things have gone the past few months... I know for certain that not too many people have gone back yet.

Sometime later in the month I'll return; what interesting events I'll discuss, now that's up in the air.

Mountain Dew Spark, The Empire Strikes Back, Derechos & Kissimmee Summer Specials

Not to start this off on a sour note, but I'll just mention one thing I have noted this summer: those who drive with their masks on in their cars are the worst drivers! While I am glad they do wear masks, this at least gives me a warning to try and avoid them if possible. As for derecho, that is a term I had never heard of before a terrible set of thunderstorms hit Northern Illinois soon after I left there and returned to Florida. Thankfully no one I know was adversely affected.

To mention a few random things since the last time I wrote one of these: 2020 being miserable has even impacted the soda manufacturers. The variety of pop (at least in 12 packs) has been lacking as of late. At least last month there was the unexpected revelation that at Speedway convenience stores only is Mountain Dew Spark, which tastes like raspberry lemonade and I am in favor of the flavor. Another thing I did was return to the cinemas; while a risk, I am willing to accept that risk and believe that each chain's measures will be enough. One thing I saw which wasn't good as Peninsula, a horror/action movie from South Korea that was a sequel to the awesome Train to Busan. Unfortunately, Peninsula wasn't too good... an attempt at being a mindless modern Hollywood blockbuster, only with terrible computer graphic effects. At least the week prior was being able to experience The Empire Strikes Back theatrically, which was awesome. For certain it was MUCH better than the last few Star Wars movies... and to deliver a hot take, recently I finally watched The Mandalorian-Baby Yoda is cute and all but the whole thing was just meh and dull to me, among other issues such as there being too much humor... one of the main problems I had with the last few Star Wars movies.

The past few weeks haven't been too terribly exciting so it was nice that Mecum returned to Kissimmee; each January I discuss the largest auto auction in the world (at least 3,000 vehicles) and because of The Black Plague canceling some of their scheduled events, they had to have another one in this area of Florida. While they had “only” 1000 vehicles and nothing was in 7 figures like their usual auctions here, it was still nice seeing a wide variety of different cars... even with how hot and humid it was. After that, on the way home I ate at a BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse as my last visit to one was ages ago and I have always enjoyed their food; the same was true on this day.

When I return sometime later in the month, who knows what will be discussed. Hopefully everyone has a nice Labor Day today.