Downs & Ups

Had a rather larger problem at work involving the new Xbox. I won't go into too many details, as I don't know what I'm allowed to reveal, but the short version is that we had a very short amount of time to do something, and our outsourced company let us down.

I feel quite bad as I thought being on holiday would mean I happily miss all of the problems associated with this project, but I wound up in the deep end anyway. The next day I redeemed myself, however, by recreating from scratch the entire project in less than half the time the other company needed just to send it over. Internet Champ!

Debrief

Made it back from Orlando in one piece.

It was great seeing everyone again, and we all remarked how none of us have changed since we left college. Other than the fact that they're all married with children and dogs. The flight back could have been one of the worse flights of my life, but thankfully the very friendly cabin crew let me have a row to myself at the back of the plane. My undying loyalty to Virgin Atlantic is coming into question.

Oh and the 305hp Mustang GT wasn't 305hp. It was 420.

Universal Studios

When I was still living in Orlando, we used to go to Universal for Halloween Horror Nights. Since they focus more on the haunted houses, we didn't really go on that many rides, so it was nice to visit the park properly for the first time since '95.

The only original ride still there is E.T., as all the rest have been replaced. Even the legendary and much loved Back to the Future Ride. But they kept the DeLorean and the Train so you could take pictures. They replaced it with The Simpsons Ride, so at least something good has taken its place. Scott reckons the ride follows the exact same "beats" as the original, so all they would need to do is replace the video!

University of Central Florida

For the first time in eight years, I returned to UCF. It unrecognizable.

The new stadium has been built along with masses of new dorms, bars, shops parking garages and buildings for which serve, to me, an unknown purpose. It'd truly incredible. There somehow seems to be even more students than before and they were setting up stalls and doing all kinds of things. The older 60s and 70s buildings look even more outdated now, with all the post-modern architecture really highlighting the flaws of brutalist architecture.

Even off campus, there are new student housing facilities, new shops, new university annexes and new restaurants all over the place. I'd be lying if I didn't say I'm a little envious of how cool it is now. It's actually progress I can get behind.

A Big Difference

I got my braces off about 13 years ago, and my retainer is a bit worse for wear. According to my dentist in England, it would cost about £1,800 to get a new one.

After checking with an orthodontist down the road from Scott's house here in Orlando, it's going to be in the region of $250. The funny thing is, one of these dentists is subsidised by the NHS, and one is completely private. Guess which one!