Random D2 sighting

[Tech Boys]

I work at a major retailer in Colorado Springs with people from New Mexico Highlands, Southwestern Oklahoma State, Texas A&M International, Texas A&M-Kingsville and Valdosta State. Other co-workers related to someone from Central Washington and Central Missouri. One former employee played football at Humboldt State; and another was from Jessup, he was a co-worker at the time of Jessup's D2 announcement and application acceptance.

Customers are from or related to someone from:
Lynn (she couldn't contain her joy that someone in CO knew her school)
St. Michael's College
Kutztown
Seton Hill
Mars Hill
Florida Tech
Grand Valley State
Cedarville
Minnesota State-Moorhead
Minot State (I saw the hat and said "the Christmas Beavers", he had actually never heard that term)
Jamestown (in 2022 when the D2 rumors were just getting started)
Southwestern Oklahoma State
Northern State
King
Lubbock Christian
Mississippi College (about a week after the cutting football announcement)
Michigan Tech
Missouri S&T (wearing a GLVC Swimming Championship t-shirt)
Walsh
Harding
Arkansas Tech (this time I was overjoyed)
I have a feeling I missed some.

At a previous job 15 years ago in another part of town I worked with someone from Southern Arkansas. Customers were from Harding, Central Missouri, and Dixie State.

Everyone was surprised and pleased that someone knew their school.

[njmav1]

I saw someone with Michigan Tech gear at Toronto's Pearson airport. Couldn't miss the bright gold with black.

[sportsvine]

A Brandon sighting!?!?!?!?!!!

[sportsvine]

When living in Las Vegas (the real LV, not the D2 town in NM), back around 1999, I was wearing a Chadron State Eagles sweatshirt walking through a mall, someone called out my shirt telling me he knew someone going to school there.

[Inkblot]

Saw an "Alaska–Fairbanks Mom" bumper sticker today.

[NWFanatic]

While walking down a beach in Kauai in our NW garb in ‘18 we ran across a couple wearing Pitt St gear. We had a good time razzing each other.

[Sec10-A-14]

Saw a guy wearing a Gannon University T shirt at the Home Depot in Euless, Tx ( DFW Mid Cities ). 1300 miles from Gannon

[GorillaTeacher]

While walking down a beach in Kauai in our NW garb in ‘18 we ran across a couple wearing Pitt St gear. We had a good time razzing each other.

Drive across country to Yellowstone, ran into a gorilla couple from the same town. Probably likely to happen at tourist destinations.

[Inkblot]

Just saw a Metro State bumper sticker (on a car with Colorado plates).

[canadarican]

We're down in West Palm Beach for treatment for my daughter. Have seen Nova Southeastern and Palm Beach Atlantic stuff a few times, but a young lady who is staying here is a student at Arkansas Tech. Another guy is from Seattle Pacific

[Bisonfan from FLA]

We're down in West Palm Beach for treatment for my daughter. Have seen Nova Southeastern and Palm Beach Atlantic stuff a few times, but a young lady who is staying here is a student at Arkansas Tech. Another guy is from Seattle Pacific

I live in Palm Beach Gardens, part of the West Palm metro. I assume your daughter is at on the of the children's hospitals in this area. While here be on the lookout for Harding University emblems and bumper stickers here. Several of us in the area.

About a year ago I was in Dairy Queen in North Palm Beach and saw a man and family at a table. He was wearing a Reddie shirt so I went over to ask if he was wearing a Henderson State (Arkadelphia Arkansas) shirt. He was, and the young woman at the table was his daughter who was an alum from HSU. Asked if they were on vacation here but nope, residents of Palm Beach County. She attended HSU on a softball scholarship.

[canadarican]

I live in Palm Beach Gardens, part of the West Palm metro. I assume your daughter is at on the of the children's hospitals in this area. While here be on the lookout for Harding University emblems and bumper stickers here. Several of us in the area.

About a year ago I was in Dairy Queen in North Palm Beach and saw a man and family at a table. He was wearing a Reddie shirt so I went over to ask if he was wearing a Henderson State (Arkadelphia Arkansas) shirt. He was, and the young woman at the table was his daughter who was an alum from HSU. Asked if they were on vacation here but nope, residents of Palm Beach County. She attended HSU on a softball scholarship.

She is at Paley there at St. Mary's. I just got back to East Tennessee today (I'm traveling back and forth, wife and kids have been there since May). If you have to make ONE food recommendation, let me know what it is. I'll be going back down next Thursday.

[Tech Boys]

I just had a customer wearing a 2010 Conference Carolinas Championships shirt, he is from Lees-McRae College.

[Bisonfan from FLA]

She is at Paley there at St. Mary's. I just got back to East Tennessee today (I'm traveling back and forth, wife and kids have been there since May). If you have to make ONE food recommendation, let me know what it is. I'll be going back down next Thursday.

My son (11 years old) saw a doctor at Paley last year. VERY GOOD orthopedic institution. Wishing your travels, daugther, family and the doctors well.

Now, on to food. What level and type of food? Palm Beach County has a lot of upper level wage earners and lots of snow birds too, so there are all levels of food and price ranges. The area around where you are (Paley at St. Mary's) is not the best looking or most inviting of places. Let me offer some short drives to let you see what the Palm Beaches has to offer.

MIDTOWN PGA: Travel north to Midtown along PGA Blvd, west of I-95 (this is where I live) and there are quite a few options in Midtown Palm Beach Gardens. Type in "Midtown Palm Beach Gardens Restaurants" and you'll see the map layout.

Roco's Taco's
J. Alexanders ($$$)
Texas de Brazil ($$$)
Bonefish Grill
Spoto's Fish & Oyster ($$$)
Kabuki Sushi Thai Tapas

Also look on the internet for "Downtown at the Gardens" and "The Gardens Mall", which is about a mile east of I-95 on PGA Blvd. Downtown has a few nice options and the mall has a couple of restaurants as well. The mall itself has some very select shopping options... though you might not want to take your wife there. My wife can (and does) spend HOURS there.

JUPITER:
Guanabanas: great athmosphere along a river leading to the Atlantic Ocean. It sit across from the Jupiter Lighthouse area. https://www.guanabanas.com
Island-themed seafood specialist featuring a tiki bar, live music & Intracoastal Waterway view.
Address: 960 N Hwy A1A, Jupiter, FL 33477
Our family likes Guanabanas. Make sure to walk along the waterfront and sit in the chairs to watch the sunset or just enjoy the calm and peace along the water.

Other options at the same area as Guanabanas

Square Grouper
Schooners
Jetty's Waterfront Grill

A little "hole in the wall" but well known place in Jupiter, close to the restaurants just listed, is Dune Dog.

Also right on the border of Palm Beach Gardens and Jupiter is ABACOA, which is off of Donald Ross Blvd. Abacoa Central is right across from Roger Dean Stadium, Spring Training home of the St. Louis Cardinals and the Miami Marlins. Catch a game with the Single A teams Palm Beach Cardinals or the Jupiter Hammerheads (Miami team). There are several food options in Abaco

WEST PALM BEACH:
Crazy Buffet: Stylish destination for all-you-can-eat sushi & Asian fare, plus theatrically cooked hibachi dishes.
Service options: All you can eat · Great cocktails · Vegan options
Address: 2030 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd, West Palm Beach, FL 33409
Crazy Buffet is our family's "go to" when we all can't decide where to go or when we have family/visitors. Kids love the koi fish pond at the entrance.
Funny story: the location is right behind the parking area of what use to be a Hooter's. The first time I took my wife to eat at Crazy Buffet and pull into the parking lot it appeared as if we were going to Hooter's. She was NOT impressed, until I made the turn to the left and into the parking lot of Crazy Buffet. When we turn into the parking lot now we still laugh at that memory after all these years.

Other options: Take the family and drive to downtown West Palm and park along Flagler Drive. It is the road that is right along the Intercoastal Waterway. Take a stroll along the sidewalk, sit along the seawall and look over to the island of Palm Beach. Want to see Mar-A-Lago? Continue down Flagler to Southern Blvd and look across the water. If President Trump is in town head west on Southern Blvd to the airport. Air Force One is parked right along the road and easy to see while driving by.

Water activities for the kids: St. Mary's is along 45th Street. Head north to the next major road to Blue Heron Blvd. Head east and cross the bridge (tall - nice view from the top) and just on the bottom of the bridge is Phil Foster Park, which is a small island. On the south side is a nice beach that is not really busy and is kid friendly. Across from the beach is the inlet so lots of boats are coming in and out. Also there is Peanut Island you can see. Maybe take a watertaxi and go sightseeing in the area.

Okay, after reading this post it may seem that I work for Palm Beach County Tourism.... I don't but hope you might find some things to make your time spent here memorable. I know your daughter is getting good care at the Paley.

Let me know if I can help in some other ways.

To the rest of the readers... you too can come of down to Palm Beach County and enjoy the area too. Thank you for reading this far in what has become a personal message between two members. Forgive me if I have gone too long.

[Inkblot]

Only sightings to report after a weekend of travel are Northern Michigan and Bemidji State.