Florida Boat Slips For Rent | Info

NEW YORK - The FIU women's and men's track teams earned five top five finishes and saw two student-athletes break the school's freshman record for the indoor 200m dash in the season opener at the Great Dane Classic on Friday.

Both teams improved from their finishes in the classic last year as the women climbed from 17th in 2009 to 10th this year. The men jumped from 22nd to 16th.

Freshmen Dennison Long and Victor Chin both eclipsed Soloman Cabell's freshman record for the 200m (22.59; UF Intercollegiate 2001). Long now owns the mark with a time of 21.98 while Chin stands behind him after a time of 22.30.

The pair also scored points in the 55 meter dash. Long finished third (6.48) and Chin finished eighth (6.54).

Junior Pedro Bigorra broke Horace Laing's 16-year old school record by placing third in the 500m dash with a time of 1:03.84, and the men's 4x400 meter relay scored points with an eighth place finish, tying Monmouth with a time of 3:22.24

The women were led by two-record breaking performances. Karina Edwards won the 1000 meter run (2:49.56), which smashed Shar Crader's 14-year-old school record (2:57.08). Daniela Espino also scored points with a seventh place finish in the 5000m run (17:57.11), which bested Rebecca Rodriguez's nine-year old school record of 18:04.46.

T'Keyah Dumoy's time of 25.05 in the 200m dash currently ranks second among performances throughout the conference.

In the field events, freshman Marissa McElveen finished second in the long jump (18'07.25"). Two Golden Panthers scored points in the shot put. Junior Brittany Smith finished second with a throw of 45'03.75" - which ranks third among performances in the Sun Belt and bested her school record. Sophomore Benia Gregoire finished eighth with a throw of 43'01."

For complete results, please click here.

Up next, FIU heads to Gainesville on Jan. 30 for the Jimmy Carnes Classic.

The ocean and what kinds of creatures inhabit it have always fascinated me, especially the marine mammals like the dolphins and whales. I had always wanted to ride and play with a whale or dolphin, but most of all, work in a place where I could train and study the marine mammals. Last summer one of my dreams came true.

We had already made plane reservations months in advance to go to Florida. It was my mom, my grandma, and me going on this trip. We were going down south to Stuart, Florida, to see my cousin David graduate from high school. More importantly, we needed a vacation. My mom and I also decided we would need a separate vacation from our family, so we decided to make reservations at Discovery Cove near Sea World.

The morning of the trip had finally come. And, like most trips we go on the morning of the trip was crazy. I was trying to get everything all packed up and into the car, including my mother and my grandma. Finally, about two hours before we needed to be at the airport, I was able to get all of us out the door and on our way.

Finding a parking spot at the airport is always fun. We drove around about twice and finally found one close to where the airport bus comes to pick you up. We got off the crowded bus at the US Airways ticket office; we checked our bags in and got ourselves checked in, so the worry of getting there on time was now over.

About an hour later, we were able to board the plane. It was kind of strange since this was the first time I had gotten on a plane since the plane crash on September 11, 2001. But I love to fly, so I had to ignore my worries. We settled into our seats, me at the window, my mom in the middle, and my grandma at the aisle. The plane took off about ten minutes late, as usual, and we were finally on our way. We arrived at the West Palm Beach Airport about two hours later.

When we go to Florida, it is not unusual for my aunt, Judy, to pick us up at the airport. My uncle, Roger, and my cousin, David, are usually too busy to greet us. As always, my aunt was right at the place near the security check-in waiting on us. We did our hugs and kisses and went down to the baggage claim to get our luggage.

It was lunchtime when we arrived, and we were all hungry. So we all piled up in my aunts little Neon and went into West Palm Beach and visited the Cheesecake Factory. What a restaurant! It had indoor and outdoor eating spots. We decided we would eat outside, since it wasn’t too hot. As we sat around this restaurant and caught up on our gossip, we figured out why they called it the Cheesecake Factory. I have never seen such big thick slices of cheesecake. Just looking at it made our mouths water. After we ate our lunch, we all decided to split a piece of this cheesecake. Out of the fifteen or so choices, we picked the coffee cheesecake. It might have been eight dollars, but just to bite into that cheesecake one time would have been worth the eight dollars. After we had blown up our bellies with food, we paid our bill and left.

To get rid of some of the calories we had just eaten, we decided to look around at some of the shops around the area. There were the regular stores like Gap and Old Navy, that we went and looked around in. Then we went into Blomingdale’s. This was the first time I had ever been in a Blomingdale’s, so I felt kinda like a rich girl walking around in there. We went in there and look around and gaulked at some of the outrageous prices and decided that it was less expensive to shop at the regular stores.

We left the shopping area and were on our way to my aunt’s house. It was about a two-hour drive from West Palm Beach to Stuart where my aunt lives. We pulled up to the driveway and got all of our stuff out and went into the house and got settled. That night all I could think about was the following day.

The next day I got up about 7:30a.m. very excited. My mom and I were going to drive up to Orlando, Florida. We left my aunt’s house about 8:30a.m. and started on our two and a half hour drive up the Florida Turnpike. We arrived in Orlando about 11:00am because we got a little lost. We then checked into the Comfort Inn and went to our room. We unpacked what we had brought and just took a break for about an hour. After that, I couldn’t stand it any more. We had to go to Sea World.

Our packet with Discovery Cove had a Seven-day pass to Sea World. We walked into Sea World and started off to the Dolphin Stadium. We had been to Sea World before, but we had not seen everything. The dolphin show was one of the shows we had missed. As we sat down at the stadium, the show began. To me it was the most amazing thing in the world. The dolphins did what the trainers asked them to do, which was to jump almost 30 feet in the air. It was incredible to watch. As the day progressed we decided to look at the other exhibits we didn’t get to see the last time. Around 8:00p.m. the last Shamu show was about to begin. Once again we rushed to our seats just as the show was beginning. As the lights dimmed and the smoke from the fog machines rolled, out of the water came the most incredible animal I have ever seen: the Killer Whale. From the beginning I was just fixed to the whole show. As I watched the trainers ride on the whale’s back, I wondered how they made it look so easy, it was incredible. It probably brought tears to every ones eyes just watching them move.

As Sea World was closing for the night, my mom and I were getting quite tired, so we travelled backed to the hotel. At the hotel, my mom talked to her friend, Jackie. She was going to try to meet us at Discovery Cove the next day, since we didn’t get to see her that often. By 10:00 p.m. mom and me were both in bed.

The next morning I was wide-awake by 7:30a.m. We were going to go to Discovery Cove. We got to Discovery Cove at 8:30a.m. when it opened. It did not seem crowded because they only allow about one thousand people in the park a day. We got to the counter and checked in at the front desk. There, our pictures were taken to put on our passes for us to keep through out the day. They also gave us some dolphin safe sunscreen so if it comes off in the water, it will not hurt any of the dolphins or fish.

After we cheeked in, they showed us where we could find the bathrooms, lockers, where we got our snorkelling gear, and also gave us a quick tour around the park. I was supposed to ride the dolphins at 9:30a.m. so we had to hurry. While I was putting on my wet suit, my mom went to look for Jackie.

It was finally 9:30a.m, and I went to the little cabana where they talked to every one about the dolphins. They told us how they use different training techniques and how they care for them. When they had finished talking, they put us in groups and took us down to the water. I was so excited I could hardly stand it! We got into the 70-degree water shivering. But once we all got into the water and saw the dolphins for the first time, we didn’t think about the cold anymore. It was amazing to see a dolphin so close up. We were introduced to the dolphin and were told that our dolphin’s name was Lester. I was the first one alone with Lester. The trainer took me out to the deep end and Lester followed. Out in the deep water was where I was able to really get to be close to Lester. I was able to give him a complete rub down with my hands. The body of a dolphin is soft and rubbery. After I had finished rubbing Lester, the trainer gave him the signal to go straight out of the water, and I was able to dance with him. I was dancing with a dolphin. When we were through with our dance, it was time for my ride. I held on to his dorsel fin and his side fin, and he swam me back to the group. I finally got to do what I had dreamed of. I got to ride and play with a dolphin!

The rest of the day was great. We went snorkelling through the water and saw stingrays, sharks, and other kinds of fish. It was beautiful there. But 4:00p.m. came around, and we had done everything we could do there. So we packed up our things and went back to the hotel.

That night, since Jackie had never been to Sea World, so we went back and watched a couple of shows, and then ate at the park. As we walked out of the park to our car, we were able to watch an incredible fireworks show that Sea World puts on. It was big and beautiful. All the colors and lights just brightened up the sky.

It had been a great weekend. But, unfortunately, we had to go back to my aunt’s house and go to my cousin’s graduation. As we left Orlando, all I could think about was Discovery Cove and the great adventure I had. I had fulfilled one of my dreams. I couldn’t have been happier!

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Adjacent to a major south Florida coastal resort city but still in contact with some semi-rural natural environment is the kayaking available in this part of south Florida at the Richardson Historic Park in the Wilton Manors area. Here you can easily launch from a small wooden landing on either a single or tandem top-seated ocean or touring kayak and make a long three-hour paddle along the Middle River that circles the community of Wilton Manors.

Making the circle around what actually forms the inland island of Wilton Manors is a kayaking encounter into decades of an evolving mix of nature and suburban growth in this region of the U.S. You pass under the small bridges that link to Wilton Manors, and you pass a wide variety of both private dwellings and business bordering the river – from older single-family houses to new ultra-modern structures to apartment buildings and business locations. But it is not all development and human presence – there are plentiful stretches of still open land, and mangrove, palm, and wide-branched trees along the way One seasonal local resident you may glimpse in the water -- depending on the timing of your own visit -- is the manatee, the strange-looking but friendly mammal also known as the sea cow. Signs posted along the embankment indicate which areas are manatee-favored spots. A more frequent inhabitant is the iguana, which sometimes like to perch way down on the branches of trees overhanging the water.

Other than that, and occasional ducks stopping off for a rest, the Middle River is dark and inky and peaceful, its currents just as gentle as any inland canal with only occasional eddies at some bends that require a minimal extra effort to navigate. The river joins up at one point with the Intracoastal Waterway that leads out to the ocean, but your designated route only takes you in a circular passage around Wilton Manors. Atlantic Coastal Kayak, which is based here for kayak rentals and guided tours, also offers instruction and a number of other kayaking adventures further afield in Fort Lauderdale and around south Florida.

Atlantic Coast Kayak.

Written by  Hal Peat.

Speaking via cell phone as he browses through a music store, picking up “doo-hickeys” for his forthcoming tour, Never Scream Never’s Christofer Drew sounds fairly relaxed for a guy who has just made his major label debut and now has booked an extensive tour to try to promote the thing. After a steady string of solo dates, Drew will hook up with the Warped Tour for the summer. “I don’t even know what day it is,” he laughs. “I can’t keep up with time; it’s too fast for me.” Drew, who started recording as Never Shout Never in 2007, self-released a couple of EPs shortly after he dropped out of high school. He spent the next couple of years living out of his car until Warner Bros. Records picked him up and hooked him up with producer Butch Walker for his major label debut, last year’s self-titled EP, which he has followed with the just-released What is Love?, a collection of love tunes that hearken back to an earlier era of pop and rock music despite their emo overtones. Here’s what the singer-songwriter had to say about his burgeoning career.

You began writing and recordings songs in your basement and self-released The Yippee EP on your own label. What got you into songwriting to begin with?
I started out first in this electronica death metal band. I started making electronica beats because I just got a Mac Book. I got really into that and then started making electro beats for my own pleasure. Then, I started doing vocals over the electrobeats. I decided I liked playing acoustic, which was better than the electro beats, which got really lame. It started out as something to do on the side and then I got more into it and wrote a song for a girl I liked a whole bunch which got me A plus points. I started doing that more often. I put them on MySpace and then kept going. It was an awkward chain of events.

Were you inspired by a particular songwriter?
I’d always been a huge Beatles fan, but I’m into all kinds of music. I like the Beatles and the Beach Boys. I like Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison. I love that vibe, the old acoustic-based love song. I guess those were the ones that kept me rolling and writing goofy, corny, ’50s love songs. I try to capture that innocent, cute kind of feeling.

Is there any kind of music scene in your hometown, Joplin, Missouri?
A metal scene. That’s all I grew up on. I got outcaste because I started making pussy music. It’s terrible. I’m really ashamed.

Your voice is very distinctive. Were you aware of that from early on?
At first, I really stunk at singing. I didn’t know how to sing. I sang in that death metal band, but I kind of screamed. At first, I started using this auto-tuned thing from garage band and worked out of that to not using anything, which was a big step for me. It’s been an intense progression. Touring helped a lot with my singing. I’ve been touring for the past two years and was playing acoustic so I had to focus on the vocals.

For your major label debut, you used all pre-’70s equipment. What inspired that decision?
I dunno. I wanted warm tones. Everyone is running their electrics direct and it’s wearing me out. I wanted to do some different and take a stand.

Why was it important to steer clear of autotune and vocal tuning programs?
Yeah, I took it all away. You can hear that I’m flat a couple of times. I’m not a hundred percent good singer, but it’s more real that way. Kids won’t feel bad if they’re singing my song and they’re a little flat.

Did you work directly with the London Symphony Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios?
I wish I could have worked direct with them. That was one of my only requests when I signed with Warner Bros. I wanted to work with a huge orchestra that would make it sound crazy. We sampled out strings with midi strings and sent it to them and they improved everything.

Is “Jane Doe” based on a true story?
I was sitting in this little café in Santa Monica when I was recording. I ordered a veggie burger from this one girl and I thought she was insanely cute. I went home and wrote it and brought it to [producer] Butch [Walker] and we recorded it that day. It was a real random.

You’re going to be touring your ass off this year. Are you at all apprehensive about spending that much time on the road?
I’ve been touring non-stop since I started this band. I was living in my car when I was 16. I would play random church events or whatever I could get my hands on to get $50. I feel a lot older than I am because of all the crazy experiences. It’s okay. I’m not dreading it but I’m not looking forward to it. I’d much rather be in the studio writing songs and make three more records.

Would you recommend other singer-songwriters take the same path you have taken?
I don’t know. It has not been a steady course. It’s been up and down. I felt really nervous. For awhile, I had crazy intense acne because my parents kicked me out of the house and were like, “If you think you can do this, go do it.” If you have the integrity and want it really bad and have nothing to lose, then I would say go for it.

Are you on good terms with your parents now?
We’re totally chill now. My mom is divorced and lives in my apartment. We’re best friends. We just drink wine all day. It’s really awesome. It makes life easier when I’m home. I’m not old enough to buy liquor so my mom can buy me as much as I want.

Talk a little about your personal connection with your fans? Are you ever overwhelmed knowing that they follow you on Twitter and through your MySpace site?
Yeah, sometimes. Sometimes, I feel like I can’t be myself. I don’t want to be a bad influence. I like to be open, and it’s kind of scary to be myself because I don’t want to be a bad influence. Usually, they’re open to anything and think whatever I say is funny. I like being able to not be funny but then kids think you’re funny.

You have posted personal stuff, too, like when your grandfather died.
That was sucky. It helped, though, having thoughts and prayers. It made the situation better. I could let my mom know that there were kids thinking about it and that she should hope for the best. 

Tour Dates

02/13/10
Hot Topic - Mall Of America - Bloomington, MN
03/19/10
House Of Blues - Dallas, TX
03/20/10
Emo’s - Austin, TX
03/21/10
Warehouse Live - Houston, TX
03/23/10
Rialto Theatre - Tucson, AZ
03/24/10
The Marquee - Tempe, AZ
03/25/10
The Dome - Bakersfield, CA
03/26/10
House Of Blues - San Diego, CA
03/27/10
Desert Breeze Skate Park - Las Vegas, NV
03/30/10
House Of Blues - West Hollywood, CA
03/31/10
The Regency Ballroom - San Francisco, CA
04/01/10
Senator Theatre - Chico, CA
04/02/10
Hawthorne Theatre - Portland, OR
04/03/10
El Corazon - Seattle, WA
04/05/10
In The Venue - Salt Lake City, UT
04/06/10
Gothic Theatre - Englewood, CO
04/08/10
People’s - Des Moines, IA
04/09/10
Station 4 - Saint Paul, MN
04/10/10
House Of Blues - Chicago, IL
04/11/10
The Rave Eagles Club - Milwaukee, WI
04/13/10
Beaumont Club - Kansas City, MO
04/14/10
Pop’s - Sauget, IL
04/15/10
Rocketown - Nashville, TN
04/16/10
The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
04/17/10
Freebird Live - Jacksonville, FL
04/18/10
House Of Blues - Lake Buena Vista, FL
04/19/10
Culture Room - Fort Lauderdale, FL
04/21/10
Amos’ Southend - Charlotte, NC
04/22/10
NorVa - Norfolk, VA
04/23/10
Theatre Of The Living Arts - Philadelphia, PA
04/24/10
Crocodile Rock Cafe - Allentown, PA
04/25/10
9:30 Club - Washington, DC
04/27/10
Fillmore New York At Irving Plaza - New York, NY
04/28/10
Club Infinity - Buffalo, NY
04/29/10
House Of Blues - Boston, MA
04/30/10
Toad’s Place - New Haven, CT
05/01/10
Northern Lights - Clifton Park, NY
05/02/10
Meadowlands Sports Complex - East Rutherford, NJ
05/04/10
The Altar Bar - Pittsburgh, PA
05/05/10
Phoenix Concert Theatre - Toronto, ON
05/06/10
Crofoot Ballroom - Pontiac, MI
05/07/10
Newport Music Hall - Columbus, OH
05/08/10
House Of Blues - Cleveland, OH

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Tags: Christofer Drew, Never Shout Never

This entry was posted by Jeff Niesel on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 5:09 pm and is filed under Interviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.