June 27, 2004
Day 1 night/Day 2
Not much to talk about for day 2. After my last entry, I took a nap and my friend Will took me to a local football club for the Parramatta Eels. It was kind of like a local Atlantic City casino - video poker machines, a couple of bars, restaurants, a store and a nightclub on top (3 floors of fun for the local fans) - why haven't the Eagles or Phillies come up with a concept like this??
On Sunday, I got up (managed to sleep in to 10am, but that was mostly because I got back to the hotel pretty late/early in the morning). I had to go to the airport and get my other bag (seems I grabbed the wrong one Friday night when I landed, so I didn't have my jeans and sweatshirts, etc. with me until then. I spent the afternoon walking around Parramatta - not a lot to see here, but a number of stores and restaurants, a park by the river, etc. I had a late lunch outside because the weather was really nice - sunny and about 68F(which isn't too bad considering it's winter here). Then I came back to the hotel, spent some time reviewing stuff for the office this week and crashed kind of early (around 9 or 10).
I probably won't have much to add this week since most of my time will be at the office (at least during the days) until next Saturday when I get up to Sydney, but we'll see.
Later.
Jim
Posted by jimkimmel at 03:09 PM | Comments (0)
June 26, 2004
G'Day, Mate!!
I'm in Australia, landed late last night (or early Friday morning for those of you back home). Got a good night's sleep and then was taken out to the Blue Mountains (about 60km from Sydney). Went with Will and his two daughters - Emily and Heather, and Susie and Dave.
I expected to see kangaroos on this trip, but I didn't expect to see them so soon!! The first park we stopped at had a bunch of them just laying around. Got some good pictures up close with them (I'll get them posted soon). Then we were off to the lookout and the Three Sisters (a big landmark in the Blue Mountains).
Lunch at a pub, then a visit to see Susie's new house which is currently under construction. Then back to the hotel (where I'm writing this). I'm going to rest for a bit, then Will and I are off to the pubs around here. I'm in a city called Parramatta which is outside of Sydney (kind of like a suburb). So far, it's been excellent and it's only day one!!
I'll write more when I get a chance, but the jet lag is starting to catch up to me...
Jim
Posted by jimkimmel at 04:28 AM | Comments (1)
June 20, 2004
The vacation lives on...
On my way home from the Outerbanks, I decided to make a small little detour - coming up the coastal highway, I went right shortly after entering Maryland and headed up to Avalon via the Cape May/Lewes ferry.
Needless to say, it was another excellent night of partying (just what the doctor ordered after a nice relaxing week away...). From Flotilla House to Marcy and Christine's to the party at Sheila's way back on 21st, to Dollar Bill's birthday party (people will be talking about that one for a while) to the "P". Wow.
I'm back home now after a great night and an awesome week away (and I'm soooo tired of driving - 8 hours to Avalon + 1 hour on the ferry + 2.5 hours home today thanks to the Phillies). Back to work tomorrow (ugh) and the "real" world.
The good news is that I leave in three days for Australia and there are only 41 days til Flotilla!!!
Next entry will probably be when I get down under. In the meantime, pics from the last week are in the gallery...
Later.
Jim
Posted by jimkimmel at 05:05 PM | Comments (1)
June 18, 2004
Outerbanks - Day 6
Well, this is it. We started out with pool time (Adult Swim!) in the morning followed by naps and shopping in the afternoon. Dinner was pizza (a first for us down here, but it was my turn to cook, so...)
Tonight is packing (ugh). Tommorow is traffic. Tomorrow night, I'll be in Avalon (if everything goes well).
All in all, a great week was had by all!! None of us want to leave!
Jim
Posted by jimkimmel at 10:15 PM | Comments (0)
June 17, 2004
Outerbanks - Day 5
Waverunning kicked ass!! I didn't get any pictures because I didn't want to lose the camera in bay, but it was an awesome time. The water was really choppy, so we got a lot of good air (and a lot of not so good air - driving into some waves instead of over, and landing in between the waves which is kind of like belly flopping sitting down - ouch).
After that, it was nap time (we were all exhausted), then dinner out at George's Junction which was, really, just okay. It's been much better in the past...
Late night was game time with a rousing game of Time's Up (if you haven't played it - you don't know what your missing).
One more day left (unfortunately), then it's back to the real world (for the most part).
Jim
Posted by jimkimmel at 11:24 PM | Comments (0)
June 16, 2004
Outerbanks - Day 4
Quiet day today. Pool time with the kids (very tiring). Napped in the afternoon (long nap). Drinking after dinner until late...
Tomorrow is wave runners then going out to dinner at George's Junction (big buffet, lots of food). Need to start fasting to save room...
Later.
Jim
Posted by jimkimmel at 11:22 PM | Comments (0)
June 15, 2004
Outerbanks - Day 3
Since almost everyone got somewhat sunburned yesterday, today was declared a "no sun" day to give everyone a chance to recuperate a bit. The parents took the kids to see the new Harry Potter. I almost went, but then decided (as did the other two single people - Kevin and Sue) that a quiet afternoon in the house would be a really good thing. Amid naps and reading (I've managed to finish 5 books already since I've been down - although I started one just before I left home so that probably doesn't count), it was a nice relaxing day - I'm sure tomorrow we'll be back to throwing the kids around the pool and tiring them (and us) out.
That's about it for Day 3. Nothing really exciting. Although we're talking about getting waverunners on Thursday - that should be interesting!
Later!
Jim
Posted by jimkimmel at 11:16 PM | Comments (0)
June 14, 2004
Outerbanks - Day 2
Today started off kind of crappy - overcast, a bit chilly. Most of us spent the morning outside reading waiting to see if it would either rain or clear up. Fortunately, it cleared up. Unfortunately, the damage had already been done. After a brief two hours, I got pretty sunburned - not the worse that I've ever had, but enough to be annoying anyway.
When the weather broke, we slathered up with suntan lotion (kind of like putting the cart before the horse at this point) and hit the pool. An hour later, after playing with the kids and a bad version of volleyball in the pool with the adults (beer included, of course), I was wiped out and went and chilled for the rest of the day. After dinner, the parents took the kids to get ice scream and the three of us who are single (and childless) took naps. Then off to the hot tub for a few more drinks and interesting conversation then bed.
Another nice relaxing day. I'm pretty glad that my 10:30am teleconference had been canceled, but now it's scheduled for 8:30am on Thursday (ugh). Anyway, that's the update. I'll catch up more later.
Jim
Posted by jimkimmel at 11:26 PM | Comments (0)
June 13, 2004
Outerbanks - Day 1
Well, we all made it down here with no problems on Saturday. It actually took me less time to get here than is usual (I was able to make the trip in about 6 and a half hours). The weather on Saturday was chilly, but I had about 4 hours with the pool and the house to myself before everyone else showed up.
Today (Sunday) the weather was gorgeous - sunny and about 80 degrees, so we spent most of the day by the pool soaking up rays and throwing the kids around (we not only tired them out, but ourselves as well).
Pictures are being taken, but I forgot to bring any method of pulling them off the camera, so it'll probably be next week before I'm able to post them to the gallery.
They're calling for scattered thunderstorms tomorrow, but we'll see what happens.
Jim
Posted by jimkimmel at 05:00 PM | Comments (0)
June 08, 2004
Countdown...
Only 4 more shopping days until the Outerbanks!!!
And only 53 more shopping days until Flotilla!!!
Posted by jimkimmel at 12:30 PM | Comments (0)
June 06, 2004
Philadelphia Phunday at the Zoo...
Today was the first Philly Phunday. The idea started back on Mother's Day when a bunch of us did the Race (Walk) for Life. We were all saying how we don't go down to the city that much other than for a dinner here and there, and see all the things that the city has to offer. So we decided to take one Sunday afternoon a month for the summer and do something different in the city. Today was the Philadelphia Zoo.
Today was the first Philly Phunday. The idea started back on Mother's Day when a bunch of us did the Race (Walk) for Life. We were all saying how we don't go down to the city that much other than for a dinner here and there, and see all the things that the city has to offer. So we decided to take one Sunday afternoon a month for the summer and do something different in the city. Today was the Philadelphia Zoo. The weather wasn't great, but it didn't rain, so that was good, and the place was crowded (I won't mention that I parked way down from the zoo and ended up - not knowing any better, apparently, walking three times more than I had to get to my car...)
Anyway, Rosemary, John, Owen, Luke, Javier, Leslie, Carlos, Brianna (and me) spent the afternoon walking around the Zoo and checking out the animals (the elephants really don't look all that big...). Pictures of various places around the zoo can be found here.
On a side note, I ran into an old buddy of mine, Jobi, there with his wife, and his mom and their kids. That was really cool since I haven't seen him in about 5 years. That's the second biggest "run in" that I've had already this summer (the biggest probably being hanging out with Dave Barisa in Avalon after about 10 years....). I gotta wonder who's next...
Only 6 more shopping days until the Outerbanks!!!! :)
Later.
Jim
Posted by jimkimmel at 04:16 PM | Comments (0)
June 05, 2004
The Philadelphia Curse Lives on...
While I'm still not feeling 100% today and didn't make the Happy Hour last night or the Ponglympics today (sorry guys!), I did just watch the Belmont Stakes and it looks pretty clear to me that the Philadelphia curse lives on. It's been 24 years since a Philadelphia team (or horse) has one a major championship for this city. Since the 1980 World Series, teams have gotten close many times but have been unable to take the last step and claim victory.
The question I have to ask is: Why? Or, maybe better yet, what is it going to take to remove the curse from the City of Brotherly Love?? I'd put my hope back in to the Phillies (even though I'm not a great baseball fan) or, better for me, back on the Eagles, but I'm getting tired of getting excited for the hometown team and ending up with nothing to show for it.
But I know me. And I'll keep watching and hoping thinking, like I did today, that the next time will be the time when the curse is finally lifted. It's funny how easy it's become to live with the disappointment of loss....
Tomorrow is the trip to the Philadelphia Zoo. Hopefully I'll have pictures up by Monday.
Later.
Jim
Posted by jimkimmel at 06:55 PM | Comments (0)
June 04, 2004
It's Friday!!!
Yep. It's Friday. TGIF and all that. I've been sick for the last two days with my seasonal allergy attack. I'm heading back into work today even though I don't feel quite 100%.
Couple things on tap for the weekend - Irish Dave's going away Happy Hour (he started a new job at Wyeth on Tuesday) tonight; the Ponglympics (beer pong tournament) at Chris and Heathers on Saturday, and a trip to the Zoo on Sunday.
Of course, I could decide to head to the beach at any moment (assuming I start feeling better), so the schedule could change at any time....
I think that's about it at this point. The Gallery will be updated with new pictures as soon as they are available.
Later.
Jim
Posted by jimkimmel at 07:12 AM | Comments (0)
June 01, 2004
New Home Page/Blog
Well, here it is. I've finally put it together. I know it looks boring (I'm using the default format for now), but the Home Page/Blog is finally installed and set up.
While I'm figuring out how to make this look a little nicer, check out the pictures available here!
And if you want to send me an email, click HERE.
Look for more to get posted as things happen!!
Posted by jimkimmel at 03:15 PM | Comments (0)