July 2, 2004
Everything I written was on a note pad courtesy of Howard Johnson.
When we left the house, Louis beeped someone at work about an order his customer didn't get. Well, it was an error on his part and didn't send in the order. Then, I left the NASCAR Fan Guide at the house so we ended up heading back home. But, we didn't even leave the complex yet! All of this was still walking distance of the house. After we got the Fan Guide, we went to Bank of America to get some cash. We're heading out of the shopping center and a bird decided to land some poop on the windshield. We got on the Turnpike and off to Orlando we go.
The traffic was crazy when we entered West Palm Beach. Then it was smooth sailing from there until the rain came. We passed PGA Blvd. and where the Orange trees grow [don't know where, didn't see any exits] and all hell broke loose. There was a 2 car spin out while we're driving. It was between a white Ford Taurus [not us] and a 2 door Honda Accord. They were both in the median and somewhat on the side of the road [the Accord was sideways facing the trees]. It looked like the Accord spun out because there was dirt all over the passenger side of the car. I told Louis "They're wreakin' out here and we're not even racin' yet!." Rain cleared and all is good now.
Louis didn't know what exit to get off to go to our hotel so we exited off at Kissimee. God, this place is odd [Orlando]. We're on 441 and it looks like a freak show from hell. No wonder why kids cry at Disney. How they did the road system is odd too. There are 2 roads with the same names but located in separate areas. There is a patch of land that blocks the roads to connect. We found the right international Drive and now we had to find the hotel.
There's over 100 restaurants on one strip of road. It's crazy. There's rides and museums to look at. They had Ripley's Believe it or Not and a mall that looks like The Oasis @ Sawgrass [an open mall with cool architecture]. The street was bumper to bumper traffic. The cool thing is, is that we're walking distance from Sea World, Univeral Studios, Wet & Wild and others.
When we found the hotel settled in and stuff, we walked to Chilli's and stood outside for a wait about 30 min. or so. While I was waiting, I called Mom & Dad to find out what's going on during the Busch race. [the room didn't get FX. Grrrr] Dad told me that Mike Wallace won when Jason Lefler tried to block Jr. from getting the lead and took both of them out and Wallace got the lead and won. Michael Waltrip wreaked while Jason Lefler [yes, same guy who wreaked Jr.] got underneath him and spun out. I don't know where Martin finished in the race. [3rd] I'll find out sooner or later. We went inside and ate dinner. I had a Chicken Ceasar Salad Pita while Louis had Rib Steak Eye. I paid the $28.48 and left.
We walked back to the motel [yes, motel not hotel] and found some news channels [with tons of commericals] to info. on what happend at the track and weather. Saw some visual of the Busch race and got the weather info; passing t-storms. Great and I left the ponchos at home. Marlins lost 4-2 against Tampa Bay, [go figure] Marlin Brando dies at 80 [Mom's right, they die by 3's] and some Egyptian man was arrested at MIA for smuggling immigrants.
It's 12:15am and i'm beat. Gotta wake up early and head to the track!
GO JR!!
