Class of 2015

All of you fellow 2015 graduate parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters...whoever actually raised these kids...this is for you. They made it. We did it. At least most of it. What happens now is largely up to them.

I am sure you have seen all the pictures on Facebook, Twitter, Google and all the other social media places I failed to mention. Prom pictures, baby pictures, cap and gown pictures, senior pictures...cars, diplomas...these are our kids. I am sad, my baby is all but grown up and my work here is really done, the decisions he makes going forward are really up to him.

I sat in my closet the other night and looked through pictures, baby pictures, toddler pictures, pictures with scooters, puppies, kittens, grandparents, friends. Endless first day of school pictures, turns out they are not endless, the end is here. That last first day of school picture has happened.

We cut up apples, packed lunches, cooked chicken nuggets, tried to get them to share. Watched them eat dirt, took them to the first day of school, hit too many drive thru lines, buried their first pet,   helped with homework. Watched sports, volunteered, did science projects at midnight, talked to teachers, hoped they would make friends and never be hurt. Went on field trips, typed research papers, looked at Pinnacle and screeched, had teenagers tell us to "RELAX" (that was always my favorite)...and prayed...a lot.

We made choices for them and hoped they were the right ones, we had to let them make choices and we hoped they were the right ones.

Tonight is Honors Night and tomorrow Graduation. Congratulations. We did it.

Cornhole for a Cause

Do you like cornhole? Doesn't everyone like cornhole? Here is your chance to play for a great cause, eat wings and drink beer!

This event which is sponsored by my friend local Attorney Larry Avallone will benefit the The V Foundation, the organization founded by Jim Valvano in 1993 to further cancer research.

The Cornhole Tournament is being held at Lost Lagoon this Saturday at 2:00 pm. Check out the event page here for more information.

Puppy & Dog Training Classes

The next dog (and puppy) training class at the Edgewater Animal Shelter is coming up this Saturday, May 30th. There is a puppy class from 10:00 am-11:00 am and a good manners class from 11:30 am-12:30 pm. The sessions run on Saturdays thru July 11th. Find all the information below.

So many puppies end up in shelters due to improper training or no training at all. Take the time to train your dog correctly and you will have a friend for life!

Girl's Night Out

Pool Party

Lei'd Back Party

Paddleboard Camp

The City of New Smyrna Beach is holding their 4th annual Paddleboard Camp! The camps start on June 15th and run through July 30th. They are 4 days a week and run from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm.  

Camps will focus on technical aspects of paddling and will include water safety and the behavior of currents, tides and winds. Once students are comfortable on their boards, the class will paddle the Intracoastal Waterway. Plan on seeing dolphins, manatees and sea turtles.

The camp is being held at Paddleboard NSB which is located at 177 N. Causeway in New Smyrna Beach. 

Camp dates:

June 15-18
June 22-25
June 29-July 2
July 6-9
July 13-16
July 20-23
July 27-30

The cost is $115 for residents of the city and $120 for non-residents. Fees include the use of a paddleboard. Campers should bring sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, water shoes, and bathing suit.  Life jackets are required for youth under age 12.

Register online at www.nsbpnr.com or stop by the Recreation Department at 1000 Live Oak Street. Call (386) 424-2175 for more information.

Football Fundraiser

Support the NSBHS Football team and have some fun. The high school football coaches are taking on the the local radio personalities in a Celebrity Basketball Game. If you have ever met our fiootball coaches you know that basketball is not their best sport. Should not only be fun but amusing as well!

Happy Mother's Day

Another Mother's Day is in the books...I had a big long blah blah, rah rah Mom's post put together yesterday but was just not feeling it, I have no inspirational message, nothing. I have nothing.

Today my almost 18 year old was busily being the Mother's Day awesome kid cleaning the kitchen, sweeping and picking up the stuffing from the stuffed Easter bunny that the dog tore up. He then decided we should go to lunch...at of course my favorite place, Off The Hook in NSB. Oysters for Mother's Day...all was not lost.

So after lunch we were visiting my Mother at Ocean View and I was really just sitting there listening to them chat. My Dad, his Grandpa and her husband died not to long ago, no one really says much about it, not wanting to upset her. She has the little card you get at the funeral home in her book as a bookmark. She was telling him how she liked to look at the picture, and how my Dad gave her the book, she reads it but she doesn't remember what she read (UGH). I was not even looking up at this point. Couldn't speak.

 My sweet child told her how he thought he heard his Grandpa walking in our kitchen not to long ago...squeaking really, his shoes squeaked across the floor. So Grandma said, "Curtis, I think you did hear him, he was trying to tell you he is watching out for you as you graduate and go to college and start your life."  Trust me this was quite a big sentence for my mother to get out. He was clearly choked up and so was she, I am still trying to sink into the chair, can't speak. Then she proceeds to tell him that she sees things on TV and thinks to herself, "I want to tell your Grandpa about it, but then I remember I can't." So he said..."well Grandma you can tell him, I am sure he hears you, he just can't answer you."

I had nothing, no words. I just sat there, thinking..Jeez I love that kid.

Happy Mother's Day.

Baci Pizza

UPDATE (8/29/2015): We went back again and the pizza was fantastic! Very good service and happy to say we will be returning! 


UPDATE(5/28/2015): I went back to Baci yesterday for lunch and it was not nearly as good as the first time. We sent back some of the food, which I very rarely do and what we didn't send back wasn't very good. The service was ok, but not on the level we had the first time. I hope it is growing pains and they can get it together. 

I finally went to Baci Pizzeria yesterday after hearing about it from various friends. All love it and raved about the food! So my lunch buddy Glenda and I headed over there yesterday (to be honest the line at the Taco Shack was too long). All the things I heard were true and then some!

We ordered the Arugula Salad, the Antipasto and a 12" Pizza Rustica. The Antipasto was huge and diner party worthy, I would take this bad boy home and slap it on a plate and pretend I made it for guests. It was that good and looked gorgeous. All of the food was fresh and delicious. The service was fast and friendly and the food came out quickly. I saw a few sandwiches go by, they looked really good as well, Glenda has had the Panini's and said they are excellent.

Baci is located at 830 N. Dixie Freeway in NSB. The only not positive thing I can say is they do not seem to have a website or a menu online, I checked Yelp and all those sites and could not find one. They also have two Facebook pages which is quite confusing. I would be happy to help them fix these two tiny problems, if they are reading this please call me for help at Sunfest Media (shameless self-promotion). I highly recommend for lunch, dinner or take out!!

Here is a picture of the menu to save you some time. 

Flip on Over to the Flip Factory

There is a alot of great stuff happening at the NSB Flip Factory! They have a series of Spring Clinics going on, the first one is today at 5:30 pm. This one is for Handpringing(not a word but works) and aerial work. There will also be a Cheer clinic on Saturday, May 16th for anyone who may be interested in Cheer!

Speaking of Cheer, the Flip Factory is also offering Cheer Classes to Pop Warner Cheerleaders, They have two great coaches for these classes and the class size is small. Take advantage of this!

Last, but certainly not least it their Summer Camps! These will be action packed, fun filled camps to keep your kids busy this summer.

You can go to their website, give them a call or just stop by the gym to get more information!

Volleyball Camps & Programs

Blue Crush Volleyball Academy is holding a Summer Skills camp in July. This is open to volleyball players ages 8-17 years of age.

Blue Crush is also offering a Summer Beach Volleyball Program for the same age groups. This program starts June 9th. Beach Volleyball has gotten hugely popular over the last few years and this is a great chance to learn from the best!

Go to Blue Crush Volleyball's website to get all the details on both programs and on their volleyball program in general!