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Travelogue: Miami 2024

Dinner in the sky

The very next day after I proposed, we woke up at the crack of butt to catch a plane to Fort Lauderdale.

Her: Wait, you booked an 8AM flight?!
Me: (slowly) Yes?
Her: So, we have to wake up at like 5AM?
Me: (slowly) Yes?

The train ride there was pretty uneventful, although we were close to the only people out and about that day.

We did have to run in one portion of the trip, but that’s a story for another time.

My MIL bought that bag for the Firecracker for Christmas. If that doesn’t tell you everything about that family, I dunno what will.

We were in Miami by noon.

I booked an inexpensive hotel that was in a GREAT location on South Beach so that we could stroll around.

We were both pretty hungry, so our first stop was a Cuban sandwich shop; unfortunately, the Firecracker wasn’t in the mood for a Cuban.

So, we ended up getting a turkey sammie, which was ok but not Cuban sandwich ok.

This was $28 (!)

We then strolled around the neighborhood for a while…

…before we ended up at the beach.

Me: Man, this is awesome. We’re on a beach in December!
Her: This is great. Hey, what are we doing for dinner?
Me: Oh, the Frenchman and Tess recommended a joint for us; I made reservations. It’ll be pretty low-key.

It was not.

But more on that in a moment.

So, after a quick nap, we got dressed and walked the mile to the hotel where the restaurant was.

We’re New Yorkers so a mile walk’s nuthin to us.

Her: Wait, that looks just like [the Frenchman and Tess].
Me: (to them) Hey, guys!

Arriving at the hotel elevators, I saw the Frenchman and Tess and waved.

I didn’t tell the Firecracker that they both just happened to be in Miami at the same time and were joining us for dinner.

The Firecracker: What are you two doing here?
The Frenchman: Oh, he didn’t tell you?
Tess: Is that ok that we’re here?
The Firecracker: Are you kidding? That’s great! (turning to me) OMG, you are full of surprises.

Tess had been to the restaurant before, so we let the two of them order everything.

The food was absolutely killer…

…but the views were even more so.

Here’s the view from the bathrooms.

The bathrooms!

Tess encouraged us to take pictures because the rooftop pool was empty, and the views were spectacular.

The waiter heard that we just got engaged so he comped us some champagne.

No vibe like drinks in the sky vibes, lemme tell ya.

Afterwards, they drove back home and she and I walked back to our hotel room, taking more pics as we walked.

Me: Good engagement so far?
Her: Amazing!
Me: OK, well that’s the end of the surprises, everything else is as you know it.
Her: It’s been just great so far.

Actually, at least for you, there’s one more surprise.

I’ll tell you all about it in the next entry.

Location: back in freeeeezing NYC
Mood: brrrrrrrrrrr!
Music: Drinks in the sky, that’s the vibe (Spotify)
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So, I did a thing

Past, Present, and Future

I rushed out the door of my in-laws because the Firecracker was all by her lonesome for Xmas.

For various reasons, she’s spent a lotta Christmases alone and I didn’t want her to have to do it again.

In any case, the train into the city was standing-room-only packed and this French woman was behind me and her teenage son – who was sniffling and coughing – was in front of me speaking to her with me in the middle of them.

I’m gonna get so sick, I thought.

More on that in a couplea entries.

Her: I was young. It was like the early 2000s.
Me: Oh man, I was already in my 30s then.
Her: Yeah, cause you’re old
Me: (sighing) Well, thanks for not saying “AF” after that sentence this time.
Her: You’re welcome – but I was thinking it.
Me: (nodding)

Do you remember when the Firecracker and I went to Pasadena together and we stopped by Tiffany’s?

While she was there, she tried on engagement rings, and we talked about what she liked and what she didn’t like.

Welp, I made some mental notes.

A few months ago, I ended up buying a Past, Present, and Future ring for her in her size because it just felt like it was time.

Was just waiting for the right moment to give it to her.

While I was walking around the hood the other day, walked past a local restaurant that we love and chatted with a young woman about maybe doing it there.

The young woman I spoke to was all for it.

Her: Are you available for a quick call sometime on Monday? I would love to discuss the details with you to surprise her! We have our Skylight room available that day.
Me: YES! Thank you!

There’s a LOT more to that story but we can end that part here.

Coincidentally, both my brother and SIL, as well as the Firecracker’s sister and BIL were in town, so I invited them to come by afterward to have dinner.

It was my brother and his wife that were kind enough to come early and set up to take pictures and videos of everything – and on Christmas Day to boot.

Decided to do it on Christmas Day since everyone was free and the restaurant had time and space.

One of these days, I’ll tell you how I got the Firecracker to come along without arousing suspicions.

So, after I left my in-laws, I hightailed it back to Manhattan and, with alla my gear and bags, went to the restaurant to make sure everything was ready.

Then I went back to home where I saw the Firecracker.

Me: Sorry I’m so late. Trains were a mess.

When I first met the Firecracker felt that there was something immediately familiar about her.

I think we know our people innately, and everything else is just confirmation.

I set her apart pretty much right when I met her.

So, I figured I should tell her that in a way that was also set apart.

Me: I promised you that you wouldn’t spend any more Christmases alone. So, Firecracker, will you marry me?
Her: (nods) Yes.
Me: (laughing) Well, alright…

Note: There’s no sound in the video.

Location: Back in frigid NYC
Mood: cough-y
Music: No doubt in my mind where you belong (Spotify)
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Christmas 2024

What are the chances?!

The Firecracker and I had such a good time at Bryson’s for hot pot that we invited the Firecracker’s sister and her family over for some at our pad.

It was the first time I’d ever had hot pot in my pad so that was a nice (almost) Christmas experience.

Boy: It’s a giftcard [from the Firecracker’s sister]!
Me: Under the penumbra of this apartment, I get 10%.
Firecracker’s BIL: I don’t think that’s how that word is used.
Me: Well, I’m thinking of it in legal terms as it was used in a famous Supreme Court case.

There are a lotta things that mean one thing to a lawyer – like penumbra and proximate, which immediately spring to mind – that mean other things to laymen.

Me: I don’t understand why I didn’t get invited to more parties as a kid.
F-BIL: (slowly nods) It’s a mystery.

In any case, I did not get 10%.

I may appeal.

One of the traditions that I’ve now learned to truly love is spending time with my in-laws for Christmas.

I love that, despite Alison not being here, that the kid gets to experience something similar to what he woulda experienced had she never died.

It’s cold comfort but better than no comfort at all.

In any case, the kid and met up with my SIL in Hoboken and hitched a ride out to see them.

Now, before I tell you about my Xmas, wanted to relate onea my favourite stories in life:

Decades ago, I went to my parents to help them fix a computer and upgraded a small 2.5 harddrive for them, and put the old 2.5 harddrive into my breast pocket.

Afterward, I stopped by and visited my buddy Danny the Good’s pad and, while I was there, Danny and his wife were discussing their own computer issues.

His Wife: What’s wrong with it?
Him: The harddrive’s shot. We need to get a new one.
Me: Wait, I’ve got one on me! (reaches into pocket and pulls it out)
Her: (laughing hysterically) Only Logan would have a spare harddrive in his pocket.

OK, back to the present: I’d bought my in-laws a mesh router and offered to set it up for them.

FIL: I don’t know if we need one. The old one works fine.
Me: Welp, I’ll just leave it here then and we can always install it at some point in the future.

Wouldn’t you know it, the router ended up failing repeatedly while I was there.

MIL: (joking) It seems awfully coincidental that our old router fails right when Logan brings a new one for us.
FIL: Very suspicious.
Me: (laughing) You should just be happy I have it.
Her: What are the chances!?

So, I set it up for them so that worked out.

As for the kid, he got a ton of loot that he wanted.

And I got plenty of food…

…and my SIL made her amazeballs eggnog, which is essentially just an adult milkshake.

Promised the kid that I’d stay for Christmas breakfast and lunch but then I had to run because I had to meet up with the Firecracker.

Him: You can’t stay for dinner?
Me: Sorry, kiddo. I promised [the Firecracker] that I’d see her.
Him: (nodding sadly) OK.

Had to keep my promise to the Firecracker for really good reasons that I’ll tell you all about in the next entry.

Location: Back home with the kid
Mood: sick but getting better
Music: I’m getting confused cause this isn’t our room (Spotify)
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