The best week of my life

From February 28-March 7th I was in Tampa, Florida with amazing people. Me and Tom drove down Saturday morning, got there around midnight. It was a long drive, but 100% worth it. We had a lot of fun on the way down, and started about 10 new inside jokes, so it was cool. We also stopped at a place called "Jasper's Porch" to eat in South Carolina, and it was delicious. The best southern fried chicken I've ever had.

Once we got down there, we saw everyone that was currently staying in Jessi's apartment. These include: Jessi, Rosie, Julie, Anna, Adon, Sammi, and Dean. It was a packed house the first couple nights but was so fun. The first night we drank a bit and just hung out the apartment. The view from the balcony was beautiful, and everything about Florida was absolutely amazing. I woke up Sunday morning and most of us went to breakfast at "The Village Inn". It's basically like a Florida ripoff of Denny's, except with better food. So we ate and then went shopping at the international mall, which was really expensive stuff. I bought some sunglasses since I was lacking in that department, and we went back to Jessi's for a bit. We had dinner (Chicken Alfredo and Beef Stew), and a few beers while watching the Cavs game and waiting for Jessi to get off work. When she returned, we all had shots, and headed over to Applebee's. Me, Tom, Julie, Jessi, and Rosie went to Applebee's and had some delicious beverages. Then we returned home and I kept drinking while Jessi went to bed and Tom passed out on the couch. I killed the bottle of Jack Daniel's that had just been opened the night before, and even started mixing it with water when I ran out of Coke. That was probably a bad decision, and it tasted gross. It was still fun though.

Monday morning I woke up feeling like garbage, and didn't feel totally ok again until we started driving to John's Pass. It was 75 and sunny and I was quite pleased, and the fresh air blowing in the windows really kicked me back into feel good mode. Me, Jessi, Rosie, Tom, Anna, and Adon went to John's Pass and did some shopping, then went to Bubba Gump's to eat lunch, where I was made to feel like an idiot because it was a Forrest Gump themed restaurant and I never saw that movie. Good shrimp and clam chowder though. After John's Pass we went back to Jessi's and needed to buy the steaks for the cookout, so Me, Tom, and Jessi went across to Wal-Mart and Me and Tom treated everyone to some New York Strip Steaks. By the time we got back across the street, several of the people for the cookout were already there. I remember 2 dudes named Adam, and Tiffani, and didn't really pay attention to anyone else's names. Sorry to those who I forgot. Anyway, we hung around the apartment for a bit listening to music and then decided to go down to the grilling area and cook. Me and Tom got the coals going and started the steaks while everyone relaxed and had some margaritas. I also lit up a big Gurkha cigar and enjoyed it like you wouldn't believe. After the first round of steaks were done (the ones that actually got cooked right), everyone went back in except for Me, Tom, Jessi, and Tiffani. We stayed out there and braved the "cold" (65 degrees). It was literally the most delicious steak I've ever had in my life. Tiffani also claimed that hers was, but I'm skeptical considering it was barely cooked at all. We took a picture and it was still like half red. Anyway, we finished up cooking the steaks and went back inside. Everyone was watching "Across the Universe" and the two Adams had left (apparently because of me? whatever. I'm on vacation and don't give a fuck). Me, Tiffani, and Rosie went into her room to listen to Sublime and relax, because we didn't want to watch that movie. I personally didn't want to watch any movie because I was in Florida and I can watch movies anytime, anywhere. Adon came in several times to get us to come watch the movie, and Anna came once to get us too. Tiffani decided she was going to leave, so I gentlemanly walked her to her car. I then, being buzzed, went back upstairs and cleaned the entire kitchen. Wiping down countertops and everything.

Tuesday morning I woke up feeling fine, but unfortunately it was Julie, Anna, and Adon's last day. We went down and laid by the pool for awhile, and I jumped in even though the water was cold because I wanted to swim at least once while I was in Florida. Then me, Tom, Julie, Anna, Adon, and Rosie went to the mall and ate at Johnny Rocket's, then Rosie took them to the airport. Me and Tom went back to Jessi's and waited til she got off work, just relaxing. We decided we wanted to do something since we were in Florida, and went to the driving range, where my hand got bloody and Tom's back started hurting. When Jessi got back, Me, her, Tom, and Rosie went up to Applebee's and I met Ashley, who is the coolest waitress alive. Me, Tom, and Rosie got pretty buzzed and all four of us belted out songs on the way home, which include, but aren't limited to, "Total Eclipse Of The Heart" and "Take On Me". It was a great time, and I took a video of the singing of Bonnie Tyler, which I will watch time and time again and laugh.

Wednesday I woke up, still feeling good (hangovers are nonexistent when you drink every night). Everyone was at work when Me and Tom woke up, so we went and got lunch at the mall. Then Tiffani texted me and said we should come up to Ruby Tuesday (where her, Jessi, and Rosie work), so we headed up there for a bit. Me and Tiffani took a drive around the neighborhood while Tom sat in the restaurant and drank 4 mango teas. Tiffani left to make a purchase and I went in and drank some strawberry lemonade that Rosie claimed "tasted like dirt", but I thought was delicious. Me and Tom went back to the apartment after that and Jessi took off to go to her other work (Victoria's Secret). Me and Tom relaxed for a bit, and then went down to the gazebo overlooking the lake and had a cigar. After the cigar we came back and talked to Dean for a bit, then I started watching the Chelsea game on Fox Soccer Channel. I then got a call from Tiffani telling me and Tom to meet her and Rosie up at Applebee's. We were ready to go, so we headed up there and had a great time. It was karaoke night, and Me and Tom sang "What's My Age Again?", "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go", "My Way", and helped out the girls on "Ice Ice Baby" to close out the night. Tiffani and Rosie took off and Me, Jessi, and Tom stayed for awhile hanging out with Ashley. Then we went home and went to bed.

Thursday Me, Tom, Jessi, and Rosie headed over to Tijuana Flats for some good, cheap Mexican food. Tom tried some really really hot sauce and got a stomachache. Then Jessi went to work and Rosie cleaned the fridge (?) while Me and Tom went down to Clearwater beach. It was the most beautiful place I've ever been in my life, and we had a good time. There was a black guy playing a sax, a white guy playing an acoustic version of "White Wedding", and this alien looking guy that I don't know what the fuck he was doing, and that was just walking on the boardwalk. We got some sun, bought some shirts, and headed back home. We hung out with Dean for awhile discovering new bands and then headed back to Applebee's again. It was open mic night, but we didn't sing anything. Me, Jessi, and Tom still had fun though, while Rosie and Tiffani went to the Sublime cover band concert. We came back and hit the sack, depressed because tomorrow was our last full day there.

Friday, our last day, was a pretty good one. Me and Tom went to the mall to meet Jessi, and then met Ashley up at Tijuana Flats for lunch which was fun. Ashley went off to work, and Me Tom and Jessi got some Starbucks and relaxed outside for a bit. We went back to Jessi's and watched "The Other Boleyn Girl", which was a pretty decent movie, although fucked up. Then Me Tom and Jessi went to Clearwater to finish souvenir shopping, and then took a night walk along the beach and saw at least 2 couples having sex. We left Clearwater, and we headed up to Applebee's to see our pal Ashley again. We split some Nachos and had some drinks, and then were going to go to Tiffani's party but couldn't get ahold of her to get the address. I finally got ahold of her and decided I would just go with Rosie when she got out of work, because Rosie knew where she lived. Jessi fell asleep when we got back and Tom was in no condition to drive, but me and him made up some really funny songs using Sammi's guitar. I waited up for Rosie, only to find out she decided not to go to Tiffani's party, and I was stuck without a ride. I was disappointed, but more pissed that I had to leave in about 7 hours. I then took a walk and sat under a tree looking at the lake and thinking about what an amazing week I had and how badly I didn't want to leave. Then I went back upstairs and fell asleep on the couch while watching "Premonition", which was a decent movie that I wish I could've stayed awake to finish.

Saturday morning Me and Tom woke up at around 6:30 and got all our shit together, said goodbye to Jessi, and headed home. It was depressing to say the least, and neither one of us was in a great mood on the way home. 17 hours driving away from where you want to be most in the world is not the most pleasant experience. Surprisingly enough though, we didn't get at each other's throats throughout the whole trip, even the car rides, which was awesome. We got home at 1 in the morning and were welcomed by pouring rain and a temperature 30 degrees cooler than it was in Florida. Depression set in.

Bottom line is, my week in Tampa was the best week of my life, and I honestly don't care what anyone says, or what negative comments people say about the bugs or the heat or the hurricanes. I would rather deal with those than snow, cold, ice, and wind for 5 months out of the year. I'm moving to Tampa when I graduate, and anyone who says otherwise, fucking watch me.