Sine I live in Orlando, me and other area residents have to deal with tourists from all over the world. Many people, like me, work at the amusement parks. With the theme parks and the beaches, spring break is a very busy time of year. And the weather is hot at this time of year. Especially if you have come from a place that is slightly above zero and stepping off the plane into eighty degree weather.

All of the places are crowded. Lines are long. And if the weather is hot and something should break down, it makes it all the more unbearable. And I notice that whenever I have a problem with a park guest, it is always an American. When I am helping a park guest from another country, such as England, they are really polite.

People from Brazil? There may be a language problem, but they are usually great customers. Tourists from Japan, Korea, and China? Very polite. And so are people from the European countries and the Middle Eastern countries.

People from Canada? Great! Tourists from the United States? They constantly complain. They expect great service, while they act rude toward the employees. They expect you to do things for them that they can do, and if you are a white, heterosexual male, look out! Some of the people that are a minority will really give you a hard time.

So I wonder. If people act like that here, is it any wonder why some foreign countries do not like tourists from the United States?

And one more thing. Don't ask me to speak Spanish. I do not have tourists from other countries asking me to speak their language. And if you don't like what I just said about that last statement, feel free to leave a comment. And I will be more than happy to respond to you by telling you what you can do with yourself. And I will tell you that in English.

Don't even think of pressing two.

For the rest of ya', have a great day, and I'll holler at ya' later.

It is that time of year again. Spring Break. Orange County Schools are off today and all of next week. Our neighborhood center, as well as the other neighborhood centers throughout the city, are having a day camp for Spring Break. The manager at our center put a cap of thirty children total to be enrolled in our program. Needless to say, those thirty spots went quickly. We have had several call throughout the week, and some people that have called are not taking "no" for an answer when we tell them all spots have been filled.

"What part of the word 'no' don't you understand?"

And I am wondering how many parents woke up this morning with their children standing bedside with that stupid look on their face that children always give you.

"What the fuck do you mean, 'no school' today?!"

Anyway, spring break is in full gear for 2008. All the college students are down, and the beaches and the theme parks are packed. Why,last week, WKMG Local 6 News' top story was about the producers of the "Girls Gone Wild" videos in Daytona Beach holding an event at a Daytona Beach nightclub. Oh, the horror!

City commissioners and the police chief are up in arms! Residents feel violated!

There is a war going on in Iraq, several human rights groups are calling for protests on China holding the Olympics, there are problems in Africa, the United States economy is taking a nose dive,and homes throughout the United States are being foreclosed on, and you are concerned about college women flashing their breasts?

Now don't get me wrong. I do not care to watch any "Girls Gone Wild" video. And I would be concerned if I had a daughter going somewhere on spring break.
But I think there are more important things to worry about. And there are more things that are worth covering on the news.

I have an idea. Why not send your anchor woman on the evening news cast to cover the story. Better yet, have her enter the contest! I would not mind seeing her naked. Besides, most of these anchor people get their job based on their looks anyway.

Well, I have to get going. The children are back in from the playground, and they are getting ready to eat lunch. And if you know how children eat, multiply that by 30 and that equals a mess.

After next week, I will be needing Spring Break.

Sometimes, it's just best to walk away.

I hope that everyone had a Happy Easter. I'll post some comments from my last post when I get a chance. Have a good week, and I'll stop in on your blog soon.

Big Al