Sweet Times in Cocoa Beach

View from our room at La Quinta Oceanfront in Cocoa Beach

Before leaving for our cruise, we spent a day and a half in this shifty little beachside town. We met the nicest people - everyone wants to talk with you, at length, from the store employees to the front desk people to the shuttle drivers and bartenders.

Our plane was late coming in but the day got better from there. After a 40 minute ride to Cocoa Beach from Orlando, we checked into our hotel and headed over to one of the bars on the pier and had lunch and $1.50 beers. Amazing. That's like free.

One of the reasons we chose to stay at La Quinta Oceanfront (there are two in town, and the other is not desirable) was its close proximity to Publix. When you do a Disney Cruise, you can bring your booze on board with you so it's good to be near a place where you can stock up. I didn't realize we'd be in Publix more than six times in a day and a half. I also didn't realize we'd end up with one of their shopping carts in our room, which took me back to my college days. It was pretty handy as a drying rack for bathing suits before we returned it on Friday.

Thursday we loaded up on booze for the cruise and room, then spent the evening drinking beer in the pool and shooting the shit. Frank, Eric and MFD hit the town and all the ladies hit the bed early.

Friday involved Dunkin Donuts (also walkable, very key, mama needs iced coffee), a manicure, more Publix, and a trip to Ron Jon, a huge surfshop on A1A. I was singing Ice Ice Baby for two days running since we were right off of A1A.

The mile walk to Ron Jon was hot as hell but worth it. I've been looking for a new beach bag for years and finally found one I love. I also got a new pair of Sanuks, and we got a magnet (required travel purchase for us) and a long sleeve T to share. MFD got a new bathing suit, Reefs and polarized sunglasses.

He ended up working most of the day Friday while I went down to hang at the pool with the rest of our crew. When he was done, we headed over to O'Shucks for happy hour. It's right on the sand and reminded us of The Carousel in Sea Isle. There were more $1.80 or $1.50 beers, plus a smattering of Happy Hour apps - steamed shrimp, fried mac & cheese, snow crab clusters, and ribs. It was awesome. Everyone else eventually joined us, and a good band started playing. The lead singer sang Stevie Nicks better than anyone I've ever heard.

I wanted to take those stools very very badly. They don't seem like they'd be easy to get on a plane. FedEx would definitely be called in.

Our friends left to hit Ron Jon, and a woman came up and said she wanted to buy MFD and I a drink because she's a people watcher (much like myself!) and noticed that we were having a great time and seemed like such a great couple and in love. That was pretty cool. We ended up sitting with her (Hello Mary from Chicago!) and her sister and had a ball.

So I ended up being that girl who went to the bar for Happy Hour in her bathing suit at 5 p.m. and was still in it on the dance floor at 10. What is it the kids are saying? YOLO, y'all.

Cocoa Beach, it was good to meet you.

I'd Like to Buy the World a Home...

and furnish it with love. Grow apple trees and honey bees and snow white turtle doves. Take it away 70s commercial people!

Also considered as musical accompaniment:  My Favorite Things by those damn Von Trapp children and their nanny. Except my name is not Laura or Kim and I am not enamored of The Sound of Music. But I digress.

Here are some of my favorite things, that I wish everyone had or had experience with...except for the selfish assholes who only think of themselves and don't care about others, or people that harm people or animals on purpose. For those people, I envision a raging army of fire ants perpetually attacking their private parts. Anyway these are a few of my favorite things:

Sanuks

Intimate Knowledge of this Movie (whoever stole my copy from my house, may your ass burn with the fire of 1 million suns for eternity)

Totes Clear Umbrella

Aid Through Trade Roll On Bracelets

Pureology Shampoo and Conditioner

Cindy Crawford Washable Slip Cover Sofas (especially if you have smelly snorting dogs who are always on the couch)

Yoga Pants

Brother's Pizza

Ceramic Christmas Trees

A Tiny Baby Jesus Candle Purchased at ShopRite

Experience Working For a Cause Like This

Parties where the Preferred Attire is a Wedding Gown



Professional Photography of your Dog(s)

Friends Like These

More favorite things to come, I'm sure. Until then, happy Monday. If you have off for this banker's holiday, I am jealous and bitter. Enjoy yourselves, and also: kiss my grits. I am getting a free lunch though, and chances are you are not.

Working on Columbus Day,

SMD

p.s. Good season Phils!
p.p.s. While I do wish I wasn't working, I don't think Christopher Columbus is a good reason to have the day off.

Rainy Days and Tuesdays can both suck a wang

I highly recommend this clear bubble umbrella, specifically if you work in a city. You can glide through the rainy streets with ease, safe from precipitation in your little bubble. You will still see what's going on around you, which will keep you from banging into the umbrellas of others who are stalking around with their heads down, cursing. Even Serena van der Woodsen uses it:

Image from styleseendaily.com

Totes bubble umbrella. Get it. Then, carry it and USE it, or you will look like this:

It's like a wet mark of a reverse butt, isn't it? Instead of using my beloved umbrella, I used this on the two block walk back to my office from the gym:

While I'm airing grievances, you down there. Sanuk flip flops. I love you for daily wear. I can walk all the live long day without my feet, legs or back hurting like they do in most flip flops. However, you get an F for rain performance. I was slip sliding away and nearly broke my ass a dozen times. Get your shit together.

Attention people in the lobby: when I bust through the revovling door with my wet T-shirt over my head, don't stop and look at me in dismay like I am The Swamp Monster. I am not. I just play one on rainy Tuesdays.

Wet and singing along with Karen Carpenter,

SMD

p.s. Tuesdays are the worst day of the week. They're not the first day to jam through, they're not Wednesday poising you for transition into weekend mode, they're not Thursday/Friday Eve. Useless.

p.p.s. MFD makes awesome ribs.