| Here is what is going on with the Florida Remberts |
| September 1, 2001 Happy 5th Birthday to Coral!!!! Did some cleaning around the house and tried to get the pool back in balance...the whole time, we listened to Coral asking when we would be going to McDonald's for her birthday party. We left for McDonald's at about 4:15 and Coral was very excited! Once the party got started, Coral and Jordan had a great time playing and running around...it was a great party and the best thing, we didn't have to clean-up. After we got back to the house, Dan watched the Penn State/Miami game...even though the game wasn't good to Penn State fans, it was nice to finally watch a meaningful football game! September 2, 2001 Dan and Coral went to Church while Amy and Jordan went to the airport to pick up Amy's mom, so that Dan and Amy could go to New Orleans. We all went out for dinner at Red Lobster and then out to the beach where Coral and Jordan played in the sand and water...we got a lot of the sand off in the showers, but some came back with us to the house. September 3, 2001 Happy Labor Day! Dan and Amy spent the morning doing Labor for Labor Day...Dan cut the grass and Amy cleaned the pool. After that was done, we relaxed a swam the rest of the day. For dinner, we tried to go to Grills, but everyone else in the county had that idea, so we went to Crab Heaven instead. Dan got all you can eat snow crabs, so everyone spent the night waiting for him to get his money worth. The kids were good, but there is only so much chasing that Amy can do in one night. September 4, 2001 Dan and Amy car-pooled to work for the first time since we started working at KSC. Dan had CPR/First Aid training at work, so now is the time to get hurt around him. After work, we stopped and got dinner and then we both packed and got ready for our big trip to New Orleans September 5, 2001 After work, Dan and Amy went to the Orlando Airport...then to the Atlanta Airport...then to the New Orleans Airport...then to the Downtown Radisson...then to bed...it was a long trip. September 6, 2001 First day of Dan's class...Amy and Dan went down stairs to get some breakfast, then off to class while Amy got ready for her day. For lunch (which was 1 1/2 hours long), we took a walk around the downtown area of New Orleans...not much to see, just kinda scary. So we kept on walking trying to find a place to eat until we saw the Harrah's Casino...it is well documented how Dan fell in love with gambling at first sight at Vegas for Richy's wedding, so they stopped in for a few rounds on the video poker machine...on the way back to the hotel, they finally grabbed a quick bite to eat. After class Dan got back to the room to find a stranger in there...no wait, its just Amy...she got her hair cut again and it is even shorter now! And it looks great. Now it is time to take the hotel shuttle to the French Quarter...first place we went was "The Corner" (a bar/grill). Amy had chicken (don't be too suprised) and Dan tried the New Orleans sampler, which was Gumbo, Gumbalia, Red Beans with rice, and others...it was very good, but the Gumbo was especially good. After dinner, Amy wanted to go to one of the MANY Palm/Tarot Readers in Jackson Square that we stared at out the window all during dinner. He told us some things from the past, present and future...the stuff that he told us from the past and present were close enough, that our skepticism was not there when we heard all of the great things in store for us in the future...we will let you know if any of it comes true. After over an hour of listening to our good fortunes to come, we went to the heart of beast...Bourbon Street. All we could say as we looked around at the show was "I can't imagine this place during Marti Gras!" Once we got tired of watching drunks come in and out of bars and stip joints, we headed back to Dan's favorite vice (well, maybe his second favorite)...the casino. Dan spent his allowance at the Roulette Wheel and video poker, while Amy put a couple coins in the slots and then we headed back to the Radisson for some sleep around midnight. September 7, 2001 Breakfast...class...lunch...back to class, nothing that exciting. The class finished early (around 2 PM), so we got an early start to our trip to the French Quarter. We just walked around and saw things that we didn't get to see yesterday because they were closed and it was dark. We went in the St. Louis Cathedral, which was very nice...it reminded me of St. Philip's where we got married. We stopped in Landry's Bar and Grill to get some drinks and fried zucchini and to rest our feet. Then, yes, you guessed it, down to Harrah's. Dan did pretty good at Roulette this time around. Because we started so early, we were pretty tired and we got back to the hotel around 9 PM, got a pizza and beer and headed for the room to call it a night. September 8, 2001 Today we slept in and had room service and then got on our way around 11 AM. We started at the "Aquarium of the Americas", which was pretty cool and had the biggest fish tank ever! We spent the rest of the day walking in and out of little shops and art galleries...taking in the sights and smells of this famous city asking ourselves why these people don't pick up the garbage bags or clean the urine off the sidewalks from the night before? Yes, for the most part the French Quarter is a quaint community, but when it is run down, it is really run down! With all of the street performers (tap dancers, human statues, and musicians) asking for money and sometimes running after people demanding their dollar for a minute of entertainment, this was not something we needed on vacation. Don't get me wrong, we had a great time looking at the true art and stepping back in time to an earlier America, but when we felt uncomfortable because we may get yelled at for looking at a performance for a half a second and not paying for it, this is not what I would call fun. We don't want to give the wrong impression, but if you are going to New Orleans, expect to smell and see some things that aren't pleasing. Enough with the rant, we did really enjoy the galleries and the binettes (powdered sugar pasteries) at the Cafe Du Mond in Jackson Square. After the shopping spree, we went to the room to rest. Once refueled, we went to dinner at the Cresent City Brewery. Amy wanted to sit on the balcony of this bar and grill from day one and we got to do just that...we also got to listen to our first taste of cool Jazz. Once dinner was over, which was excellent, we took our last look at Bourbon Street. We thought Thursday nights were bad, until we saw Saturday night...more of the same stuff only in greater quantities. For our last night in the Big Easy, we had to hit the casino one last time and then off to bed. September 9, 2001 When we got up to catch our shuttle to the airport, we didn't expect it to be as exciting as it was...at the second stop a guy who claimed to be robbed the night before (we later found out that he was just drunk on Bourbon Street and doesn't know what happened to his money), delayed our exit with a request to "go to the casino to get money for his trip". We were not sure how he was going to do that (put a quarter in the slots or throw the dice and pray for 8 the hard way), but he came back with money in his hand and alcohol sweating out of his pores. After we discovered that the air conditioning stopped working at the next stop, another man got trapped in the back seat and had a claustrophobic attack and had to be moved toward the front of the van. After that, it was pretty calm on the way to the airport and all the way back home. Coral and Jordan were very excited to see Mommy and Daddy and to get the presents from our trip. Dan was very excited to finally turn on the TV and watch NFL Football! September 10, 2001 Back to work, school and daycare...back to normal life. After we all got home, we took Amy's mom out to Pizza Hut for watching the kids while we were in the Big Easy. September 11, 2001 Please pray for all that were hurt by the terrorist actions of today...this day will remain in our minds and hearts forever as an American Tragedy....God Bless America! After sending Amy and Dan home safely from Kennedy Space Center, Dan spent the rest of the day in the dentist office getting 4 teeth partially filled. September 12, 2001 Dan and Amy stayed home from work again because KSC was closed. After Coral got done with school, Amy, Coral and Amy's mom went shopping to make the day pass. September 13, 2001 Dan returned to work, while Coral returned to school and gymnastics...Everyone else returned to watching the TV to see what the US is in for in the coming months or years? No NFL or College Football this weekend...what is Dan going to do?! September 14, 2001 On this "National Day of Mourning", all the stuff that is going on wasn't enough, our area got hit by Gabrielle pretty bad. The hurricane/tropical storm was not the worst part for us, it was all the tornados that spun off and hit close to home, but luckly, not directly. There were high winds and rain all day long. The weather cancelled Coral's school, made Amy late for work, and almost had Dan go home from work. At about 4 PM, the storms knocked out our power, so the seven o'clock candle-light vigil was forced on our part. The power luckily came back on some time in the middle of the night while everyone was asleep. September 15, 2001 The rains continued until today and the pool is just about ready to overflow. Sandy finally got to fly home safe and sound. Since there was no Football on TV (did I mention that I miss my football?), Dan and Amy watched "Gone in 60 Seconds". Amy is getting pretty good at staying awake for movies lately, but she still gives this one 1 1/2 "long winks". September 16, 2001 After Dan and Coral went to church, we got to spend the whole day outside! It was finally a beautiful day (high of 82, with not a cloud in the sky). Dan cleaned the pool and Coral swam in the pool. Amy cleaned the back porch and Jordan played on the back porch. We even ate both lunch and dinner outside it was so nice. It was the perfect day to get some fresh air instead of staying inside and watching...ummm, I don't know...football. September 17, 2001 Dan and Amy returned to work, but because of the increased security, it takes an hour and a half longer to get to KSC and this is only the beginning! Dan went to lunch for Shannah's 25th birthday! After work, we all took a long walk around Levitt Park. September 18, 2001 Work, school, and daycare....just a normal day with us. September 19, 2001 The good news is, they are doing better at getting people through the gates at KSC and we are getting to work faster...the bad news is, we are getting to work faster. September 20, 2001 Amy had a crazy day of moved doctor's and dentist's appointments, but once that was over and Dan got home from work, she and Coral went to gymnastics. Although he is no Kennedy, Bush did give a inspirational speach to congress, he just needs to be more animated. September 21, 2001 Dan, John, Doug, Shannah, and Frank went to Crab Heaven for a long lunch and got Amy nervous because she can't remember how long it takes to eat crabs. Jordan did a number on her nose by falling on it when the "pushy thing" went too fast for her and she couldn't keep up...the scab looks cute, like she is a little kid instead of a baby now. September 22, 2001 We all got up early today and had a big breakfast of bacon and eggs because of the long day ahead of us...first we did some work, Amy cleaned and Dan cut the grass and cleaned the pool. Then, after Amy and Coral got back from swimming leasons, Shannah, John, Krista, Tuffer, and Erin came over to swim and have a little cook-out. It was a great day for a little party and everyone had fun swimming and playing and drinking 'Ritas! September 23, 2001 Coral and Dan went to church and then came home and had a day of rest with Amy and Jordan...it was another beautiful day that Amy and Coral enjoyed swimming in the pool and Dan enjoyed sitting inside watching the day's football games. September 24, 2001 Back to the grind today. We were hit with a pretty bad storm during the evening...blew some stuff around in the back yard. September 25, 2001 Work...Daycare...School...More Hard Evening Rain...That's it! September 26, 2001 I see a pattern starting here...the same as the last two days. September 27, 2001 The monotony was broke up by a day off for Amy to do laundry and Coral's gymnastics. After that, Dan and Amy enjoyed premier episodes of their favorite show "Friends" and "ER". September 28, 2001 Back to the same pattern as before...except this time it is Friday...Wooo Hooo! September 29, 2001 Another rainy day, so Amy wanted to get out of the house. After the Penn State game, we headed toward Orlando for Downtown Disney, but because it was raining so hard, we decided to head to Amy's mecca...THE FLORIDA MALL! After dinner at the food court, Dan got a shirt from Old Navy, Coral got some candy, and Jordan and Amy just window shopped. September 30, 2001 After church for Coral and Dan, Dan decided he wanted to watch the Steelers Game. So he went to Malibu Sports Bar & Grill and found that this is a good place to pick because there were about a dozen Steelers fans to cheer with and the game was on the BIG screen, not to mention they had good wings. While Dan was off at the bar, Amy, Coral and Jordan did some swimming...yes, it was finally nice enough to swim! Then Dan came home and made dinner and watched some more football games, while Amy and the kids played and did each other's hair. |
| The Florida Remberts Diary Archives September 2001 |
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