Throwing Rolls

I was in Springfield, Missouri this last week visiting one of our call centers. This wasn't my first time in Springfield. Several years ago passed through on my way to Branson. While in Branson I heard about this place that would throw rolls to customers. Years later I was watching the Travel Channel and they featured Lambert's Cafe - the place with the throwed rolls. In fact, I think the show was about the top 10 places to "pig out." Let me tell you - that is a very good way to describe the place.

One crazy year!

Earlier this month, the 2nd to be exact, Lisa and I celebrated our first anniversary. We figured the best way for us to celebrate the ups and downs of our first year of marriage was to go to an amusement park. And lucky for us, we live in Orlando, the land of amusement parks. We had purchased some passes to Universal back in July. It was really hot and muggy that day and we totally wimped out and never used the passes. So, we decided to become your typical Orlando resident and spend a Saturday at the park.


Don't worry - it happened to be the regional cheer leading finals or something. The place was crawling with cheerleaders.

This ride is probably 50 times better when it's like 95-degrees and 95-percent humidity - also known as a typical Orlando summer day.

This picture was taken after we took a little ride on Lisa's favorite roller coaster - Dueling Dragons. Dueling Dragons was not my favorite ride. I found out after about 2 seconds on the ride that roller coasters featuring loops, going backwards, and my feet dangling in air, are not for me.

Yes - that is their feet dangling in the air.
A valid description as to how I was feeling post ride - pukey!
Now we are talking - Flying Unicorn. This is definitely more my style. No loops, going backwards, and my feet were firmly set upon the floor of the car.



The One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish ride in Seuss Landing. It's actually kind of a cute ride. As you spin around and go up and down, water squirts at you.

Caro-Seuss-el.

After Islands of Adventure we moseyed over to Universal Studios for the rest of the afternoon.

The Woody Woodpecker ride. Flying Unicorn was 10 times better.

This is a fun attraction - Disaster. It stars Christopher Walken and you the visitor. They basically make a disaster movie during the "ride."

The next day we celebrated our actual anniversary by having the "cake" from our wedding - Strawberry Shortcake and Brownies.
It truly has been a crazy year. In the year we have been married, we have purchased a home, found out my job was being relocated, decided to move to Florida, sold a home, purchased another home, drove across the country, went on vacation to Barbados, and went on Safari to Africa. We are ready for some piece and quiet and at least one month without either one of us traveling for work. Despite the craziness, I couldn't have done it without Lisa.

Tanzania - Part 4 (Lake Manyara)

The last day of our safari took us to Lake Manyara National Park. Lake Manyara is famous for its bird watching - specifically Flamingos - and the the potential to see Leopards lounging in trees. While we didn't see any Leopards, we got about as close to Elephants as one would ever need to. At one point our driver Benny cautioned us to climb back into the Land Cruiser as an Elephant was getting precariously close to us.

Some Baboons, including a baby, hiding in the trees.

More Warthogs.

A baby Impala.
One of my favorite photos of the trip.

A juvenile male Impala.

These Hippos were much more active than those in the NgoroNgoro Crater. Unfortunately they were farther away.

An African Cape Buffalo applying the Jacob Technique to scratching one's back, with two Eagles watching from above.

This was probably the most amazing part of the day. We came across this Elephant enjoying himself in a mudpit. He was so close that his actions caused Benny to get a bit nervous.

For Johnny. In Arusha it is common to see these mini-buses with crazy signs and stickers. This one advertises Led Zeppelin. I saw Tiger Woods, Che Guevarra , and 50- Cent.

This Clock Tower in the middle of Arusha is located exactly halfway between Cairo and Cape town - right in the middle of Africa.
With Benny and Wilson. Wilson is the one wearing the Hakuna Matata t-shirt.

Our Burberry bed linens at the New Safari Hotel in Arusha. We are so luxury.

Matt's thoughts on the view of Mt. Kilimanjaro and the breakfast served aboard Precision Air.
Mt. Kilimanjaro - also known as the highest peak in Africa.

while we were in Arusha, Dar es Salaam had another American visitor - President Bush. The second Air Force One is for Condie Rice.

They love President Bush in Tanzania.

This is where we got our Tinga Tinga art. Tinga tinga is named after this guy with the last name of Tinga Tinga. This co-op trains people to paint in his style and then helps sell their paintings, we purchased several pieces.