April 2007 – This month we start the Georgia Renaissance Festival, and make a few trips home for events with friends and family.

Mid-April marks the annual start of the Georgia Renaissance Festival. It's just outside of Atlanta and that makes it close enough (7 hours) for a day trip home to visit the old homestead. One of Sharon's best friends Anne is getting married and we're throwing the bridal shower. Plus, my cousin Darren is bringing his family down from Canada to visit Disney World, so we'll have plenty of chances to see Florida during the Georgia run.

In the beginning of April, I booked a gig at the Vinoy Hotel in St. Pete. It was convenient, since it was close to my house. That way everyone could crash at my place while we do the gig. It was for Catalina Marketing. They're a coupon company that advertises at grocery stores. You know thosecoupons you get at the checkout line? Well that's them. Anyway, it was a nationwide convention of companies and organizations that do similar things. They decided to have a pirate theme and begged us to do the Pirate show. It's kinda racy and we warned them but they still wanted it. We did our meet and greet which was received quite well. When it came to doing the show we were a little squishy but once we got into it, it went fairly well. Overall, it was a good gig. We always feel a little out of our element at these kinds of shows but the response afterward is always good. Even when they seem a little confused at the shows start.

 

Pirating and the "Treasures in Couponing" Conference

Tortugas with our contact at the Vinoy

Anne (Sharon's Best friend) wanted Sharon to be her matron of honor but their mutual friend Amy would have had a heart attack since she has been Anne's friend longer. The only problem with this plan is that Sharon and I are doing most of the work and footing the majority of the bill. This would be no big deal if it weren't for the fact that I've got ten weeks off coming up in June-July and early August. We've really got to watch our budget. But, what can you do? She's like family and those are the sacrifices you make for family. After the upcoming bridal shower, we still have the bachelorette party in June. It looks like I'll be helping with the bachelor party as well. But, that will be a story for next month.

I designed the bridal shower invites last month while in Vegas. I designed them on the Vista Print website. That way they'd be waiting for Sharon when she got home so she could send them out. That's the kind of multi-tasker I am. Nobody realizes the amount of noise constantly running through this crowded brain of mine. My subconscious is constantly at work writing, scheming, and otherwise planning for world domination, whether I want it to or not.

 

Too many balloons

Bridal Shower!

The late night party begins

The day of the bridal shower arrived and I headed out to get the balloons, chairs, and of course alcohol. I spent over $350 in booze. In addition, Sharon ordered so many balloons that I could barely drive. They completely filled the cab of my truck. I had to find a way home making only left turns. It was really quite funny. Everyone arrived and all of Anne's family and friends were really impressed by the spread we had put out. Sharon and Amy made almost all of the food themselves. Of, course we had tons of leftovers. Anyway, the party went off without a hitch and everyone had a great time. Heck, after the older family members went home our late night party even went smoothly. (Come on, it's us, there has to be a late night party.)

 

Late night in the garden of good and drunk

Our new Patio

Our new patio Cantina bar with bartender Jimmie

Our last event in April is the visit from my cousin Darren. He brought his wife and son down to visit Walt Disney world. We had some multi day passes that they sell to Florida residents. It gives you three park hopper days to use in a six month span. Since we had a couple of days left on our tickets it was nothing to zip down to Orlando to hang out with my favorite cousin. You see, Darren and I are about 9 months in age apart and spent a lot of our childhood together. Until I was sixteen, I spent every day I wasn't in school in Canada visiting my mom's side of the family. Darren and I were practically inseparable. We've kept in touch over the years and he visited Minnesota for last year's Palooza 2. He took some wonderful pictures of the show and us on stage at the fair that we're using in our upcoming calendar.

Anyway, they were in Orlando for an entire week, doing all the Disney parks. We could only make it on the day they were at Animal Kingdom, so we called when we arrived and put the dogs in the kennel at the front gate. We met them and spent the day bouncing around the park. We hadn't been to Animal Kingdom for quite a few years so there have been many changes and additions. The biggest and best is Expedition Everest. It's the new rollercoaster at the park. It was amazing! It's not the fastest or the craziest coaster I've been on but certainly one of the most imaginative. I'd describe it to you, but I've done one better. I used my digital camera to record the entire ride and it's posted as our video of the month. Check it out!

 

Everest Entrance

Halls and Cooks in front of Everest

The Expedition Everest Ride

It was great to see my cousin and his family. I really miss my Canadian/Italian Family. Hopefully I'll make it up there to return the favor soon. Next month we return to The Animal Kingdom and visit EPCOT for Ronn's birthday. Until then...