Will TarzansKat meet Captain Jack? ~A Pirate's Life for 3 Pre-Trippie~ We're back!

[TarzansKat]

After long-time lurking, and newly posting I am biting the bullet! I, TarzansKat, am writing a pre-trippie! Dare you read further and discover the insanity that lies within?

Will TarzansKat meet Captain Jack?

Will Woody save Jesse and Stinky Pete in time?

Will Marlin find Nemo?

Discover all this and more in...

da da dum...

the introduction!
Chapter One We pillage, we plunder, we rifle...and book it!
Chapter Two Drink up me hearties yo ho...and review the plans!
Chapter Two Cont'd We have our heading!
Chapter Three Fortunately I know how to counter it...the man who did the waking...
Chapter Four Now where is that monkey...I want to shoot something
Chapter Five The only rules that really matter are these
Chapter Six Commandeer...we're going to commandeer that ship
Chapter Seven You best start believing in ghost stories...you're in one!
Chapter Seven Cont'd If you dare
Chapter Seven Will it ever end?
Chapter Eight Alright, I confess
Chapter Nine Do you feel dead? You have no idea.
Chapter Ten Thank you, Jack. You're welcome. No, not you. We named the monkey Jack.
Chapter Eleven Unless you have a rudder and a lot of sails under that bodice...
Chapter Twelve It's a fool's errand.
Chapter Twelve It's a fool's errand cont'd
Chapter Thirteen One word, love: curiousity.
Chapter Fourteen Would you do it? What would any of you do?
Chapter Fourteen Cont'd What would any of you do?
Chapter Fifteen Would you sail to the ends of the earth and back to fetch back...
Chapter Sixteen We are very much alike, you and I, I and you...us.
Chapter Seventeen Come to join my crew, lad? Welcome aboard.
Chapter Eighteen I am here to negotiate the cessation of hostilities against my stomach.
Chapter Nineteen I'm disinclined to acqueisce to your request. Means no.
Chapter 20 Well, women in London must have learned not to breathe.
Chapter 21 Aye, that'll about do it.
Chapter 22 For too long I've been parched of thirst and unable to quench it.
Chapter 23 Where does your allegiance lie?
Chapter 24 By "need" do you mean a trifling need? Fleeting? As in, say a passing fancy?
Chapter 25 There has definitely been a breakdown in discipline aboard this vessel.
Chapter 26 So there is a curse?
Chapter 27 They're more like guidelines anyway!
Chapter 28 So what's your plan then?
Chapter 29 The immortal Captain Sparrow. Well, I like that.
Chapter 30 And then they made me their chief.
Chapter 31 I'm told it's the latest fashion in London.

But you have heard of me...

Chapter 32 But what a ship is...what the Black Pearl really is...is freedom.
Chapter 33 You spent three days lying on a beach drinking rum.
Chapter 34 You know, these clothes do not flatter you at all.
Chapter 35 Holy Boo to You, Reeses, Yacht Club, Jack Sparrow!!
Chapter 36 Captain Jack Sparrow, if you please, sir.
Chapter 37 I had a dream about you last night. About the day we met. Do you remember?
Chapter 38 The die is cast. We're not getting out of this.
Chapter 39 POTC The Curse of the Black Sandal
Chapter 40 Up is down. That's just maddingly unhelpful. Why are these things never clear?
Chapter 41 The Curse of the Black Sandal Part Duex
Chapter 42 I understand. It's a game of deception.
Chapter 43 I think I feel a change in the wind says I.
Chapter 44 What's in your head has put you in such a fine mood, Captain?
Chapter 45 ...This is a jar of dirt. Yes. Is the jar of dirt going to help?
Chapter 46 Actually, I find it all fascinating.
Chapter 47 May I ask you something? Have I ever give you reason not to trust me?
Chapter 48 Enough! This is madness!
Chapter 49 You have a touch of destiny about you...
Chapter 50 I happen to have no dress in my cabin.
Chapter 51 You want me to find this?
Chapter 52 I knew you'd warm up to me eventually.
Chapter 53 You're mad.
Chapter 53.a You're mad...continued.
Chapter 54 It's a fine goal, to be sure.
Chapter 55 We have our heading...again...still...
Chapter 56 It's what you've been searching for.
Chapter 57 You're off the edge of the map, mate.
A Tribute to Shoe-per Girl
Chapter 58 This arrival throws into sharp relief that which I have not attained...
Chapter 59 This arrival...you get the idea...Part Two
Chapter 60 Son...I'm Captain Jack Sparrow...savvy?
Chapter 61 If I may lend a machete to your intellectual thicket.
Chapter 62 I said to myself, think like Jack.
Chapter 63 Guard the boat, mind the tide...don't touch my dirt.
Chapter 64 Well excuse me if we haven't resigned ourselves to the gallows just yet.
Chapter 64 Continued!!!
Quoth the DISer, Nevermore!
Chapter 65 Clear as mud, Jackie...
Chapter 66 Think like me. It will come to you.
Chapter 67 Ah-ha! So we've established my proposal as sound in principle.
Chapter 68 Parlay. I invoke the right of parlay.
Chapter 69 Wherever we want to go, we'll go.
Chapter 70 If you will brave the weird and haunted shores at world's end...
Two updates in one day! Slap me thrice and hand me to mama!
Chapter 71 Then, on the fourth day, he roped himself a couple of sea turtles...
Chapter 72 Well, that's even more than less unhelpful.
Chapter 73 If he's not with you, and he's not with us, who's he with?
Chapter 74 I believe thanks are in order.
Six, count 'em, six days!
MNSSHP...how you vex me...
Chapter 75 I thought you were supposed to keep to the code.
Chapter 76 But why is the rum always gone?
My Final Thoughts

 

[TarzansKat]

Hi!

I'm TarzansKat, and I'll be your tour guide for this pre-trippie. To quote a funny movie and one of my favorite DISers, allow myself to introduce...myself.

I am a Disney lover. I mean, really, who isn't? Let's just put it this way. My first memory was drawing. By the time I was eight, my goal in life was to be a Disney Animator. When I was thirteen, I took one of the back stage tours at MGM (it was still called that then!) and actually saw the story boards for the Lion King before it came out. And for all of you trying to figure out my age, have fun! I actually got to make my own Mickey Mouse cel which is still in my bedroom.

Am I a Disney geek? Yup. I prefer, however, to call it Disney chic.

But enough about me...I'm sure you'll hear plenty about me!

Meet....

drumroll please....

the rest of the cast, or as they're better known, my family.

DH - lover of all things Batman. Yes, indeedy, we are the perfect couple. Combine my obsession with Disney and his obsession with Batman and you get a home full of very interesting things. Where does he get those wonderful toys? DH indulges my Disney obsession...and ...I have managed to convince him that the World is the best place to vacation every single year. Yup, you heard that right. Every year. Am I the luckiest gal in the world or what?

DS - 3 year old bundle of energy and whirlwind of entertainment and all boy. I have one sister, so was totally unprepared for the world that is boy. You know what? I love it. My DS is the light of my life, and I feel very blessed to have him. After a high risk pregnancy, partial bed rest, and some scares, I feel very, very lucky to have my little peanut in my life. He loves Disney, just like his mama, and Batman and superhereos, just like his papa. Brainwash while they're young we say!

Stay tuned...more to come....

When are we going?

Where will we eat?

All this and more is yours to discover...

 

[TarzansKat]

Ah, where to begin...

to understand this trip, we really must travel back through time...through yesteryear...to September 07, Pop Century, free dining. DH, DS, my DM, DGM, and DH's DF were all at the world together. One big happy family trip, which we'd done for the past three years.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm a grateful gal. Spending time in the World with family you're lucky to have with you is awesome. But we had done it three years in a row. So, setting aside all the guilt I knew I'd receive, and feeling ten times more horrible than scum on the bottom of a sinking ship, I did it. I told the extended fam that next year, DH, DS, and I wanted to go .... ....alone....

It was received with the regular amount of , but in all reality, it had to be done!

DS is 3 and we've never been on a trip just the three of us. We really, really wanted some down time on our own. To connect as a family. To go wherever, whenever. You get the picture. Flame me if you must, but I wanted some quality time with my boys!

Did I book bounceback dining when I had the opportunity...no, that would have been smart, that would have been sensible...that would have been way too obvious!

No, I reasoned, we'll go a different time of year...ha ha ha! If any of you have seen my Budget Board posts, you'll know that I am a gal who cannot pass up free dining! It's in my blood...genetic if you will.

So I waited on pins and needles, and subscribed to the various and sundry threads on free dining....

and then...today came. :::cue choir of angels:::

And at 700am, with the rest of the crazy DIS population I got my little hiney on the phone and stayed on hold for an hour and twenty minutes until finally, after hearing the loop of Disney music twice almost completely, I talked to Dotty....ah Dotty, my CM angel

What did she tell me?

What did we book?

Can I stretch out these chapters any more?

Stay tuned...

 

[TarzansKat]

When last we left the cliffhanger of TarzansKat, I was getting ready to talk to Dotty...my angelic CM :::cue choir of angels:::

Ah, Dotty. She was so nice. So friendly. So Disney. Bless you, Dotty.

After some witty discussion and friendly banter, Dotty and I booked my trip. For me, DH, and DS, with...you guessed it...free dining!

And for good measure, let me throw in some

After waiting on hold, I was finally the proud possessor of a confirmation number...oh yes my friends, that glorious number that says I will be paying the mouse full rack rate for the privilege of eating in restaurants I would otherwise not be able to afford, and loving every minute of it!

So when, you ask? September 14-21, 2008 Oh yeah, baby. 8 Days and 7 Glorious Nights of Free Dining

Where, you ask? The Pop Century Oh yeah, baby. We're value all the way. I debated and hemmed and hawed and tried to justify staying elsewhere but I just couldn't. Couldn't bring myself to spend more money than absolutely necessary. That and my love of beignets at POFQ does not trump DH's obsession with the slushy Coke machine at Pop. Thus, DH's favorite thing at the Pop is revealed. Yes, my friends. The slushy Coke + a refillable mug =

Why? Because we need a vacation. And by need, I mean, it's been one of those years. Nothing I can really put my finger on and family issues I won't discuss on a public board but suffice to say we've had our share of whatnot this year, and we are looking forward to...with great pirate love...our vacation!

Up next-Where to eat? How many times did I change my excel spreadsheets to reflect different restaurants/parks/days?

 

[TarzansKat]

In preparation for the advent of free dining, I had prepared several spreadsheets. Say it with me...disney chic....

These were based on possible MNSSHP dates, where we'd like to eat, and plenty of down time. Heck, it's eight days!

I had finally arrived at my final spreadsheet, entitled Dining for 08 - Plan 3AB...no joke, that's what it was called. I had originally planned to go different dates, but couldn't swing it with the dining dates, so Plan 3A and 3AB were virtually the same, just different dates.

When I spoke with the fabulous Dotty I was able to book the following...

Sept 14 - Crystal Palace 625pm
Sept 15 - Coral Reef 530pm
Sept 16 - Chef Mickey's 1120am
Sept 17 - Brown Derby 1230pm
Sept 18 - Boma 540pm
Sept 19 - Kona Cafe 1050am
Sept 20 - Le Cellier 1200pm

But then, I got to thinking...we all know how bad that is.

And I made some decisions. I had really wanted Le Cellier for dinner. After reading so many DISers raving about it, I knew that I couldn't be satisfied with lunch, and dinner for Le Cellier on the 20th was full up. Hence, the lunch concept. But after checking out the menus online, it just wasn't up my alley. I wanted the dinner choices, and so I made a shocking decision. Yes, my friends. I canceled it completely. You're welcome, whoever got my 1200pm reservation for 3.

I called back this afternoon and spoke with another lovely CM. Name escapes me. As I canceled this ressie, he said, and I quote "are you nuts?" Yes, CM...yes, I am.

I will call back and try to get dinner, but I had rethought my plans. I don't know what time we'll arrive on our first day, and we skipped Crystal Palace on the last trip. It is my favorite buffet in the World, not only for the food, but I love me some big hugs from Winnie the Pooh. It's a childhood thing, I love Pooh.

Therefore, in my five year old mind, eating dinner with Winnie the Pooh became more important than having lunch at Le Cellier. Never mind the fact that my DS loves Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, Piglet, and the whole gang.

Thus, this afternoon, our new itinerary was born.

Sept 14 - no TS planned, Hot Dogs at Caseys all the way, baby!
Sept 15 - Coral Reef 530 pm
Sept 16 - Chef Mickey's 1120am
Sept 17 - Brown Derby 1230pm
Sept 18 - Boma 540pm
Sept 19 - Kona Cafe 1030am
Sept 20 - Crystal Palace 1145am

You'll note I changed the time of the Kona Cafe ressie as well. Why you may ask? Pure and complete paranoia I answer. Tonga toast is my holy grail. I have had the glory that is a Dole Whip, but have yet to taste the divine heaven that is Tonga Toast. I must get there early enough to have it. 1050 in my irrational mind was cutting it too close for comfort. Therefore, 1030 it is.

So there you have it. All my dining plans for our eight days in the world. Well, not all my dining plans. I have some very specific counter service wishes but I won't bore you with those...yet... :::cue Vincent Price laugh:::

Up next...what do we plan to do with all our time?

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

After long-time lurking, and newly posting I am biting the bullet! I, TarzansKat, am writing a pre-trippie!

Hi! Thanks for me inviting me to the party! Where's the dip?

By the way, I'm about to quote the he...ck out of you. Prepared?

Dare you read further and discover the insanity that lies within?

Will TarzansKat meet Captain Jack?

I think we should have a Captain Jack swap for our overlapping-by-one-day trips. You know, like some people do that fridge swap thang.

Will Woody save Jesse and Stinky Pete in time?

You got a friend in me.

Will Marlin find Nemo?

Mine. Mine. Mine.

To quote a funny movie and one of my favorite DISers, allow myself to introduce...myself.

No really, did you mean me? Because if that's so, I just have to say you're sweet as pecan pie. Which I hear is terribly sweet. But can't attest to. Because it looks like it will glue my jaw shut.

And if you didn't mean me. I knew that. Really.

By the time I was eight, my goal in life was to be a Disney Animator.

I was going to be an Imagineer.

Where does he get those wonderful toys?

In all their glorious machismo, don't men like to call them action figures?

I have managed to convince him that the World is the best place to vacation every single year. Yup, you heard that right. Every year. Am I the luckiest gal in the world or what?

Rhetorical. Question.

After a high risk pregnancy, partial bed rest, and some scares, I feel very, very lucky to have my little peanut in my life.

You sound blessed. And I love that you call him peanut. I call my godson pork chop.

All this and more is yours to discover...

I suddenly feel like I'm in a MasterCard commercial.

feeling ten times more horrible than scum on the bottom of a sinking ship

Wow. Is that better or worse than the scum on the barnacles on the scum on the bottom of a sinking ship?

To go wherever, whenever.

Thank you. I now have Shakira in my head.

Why? Because we need a vacation. And by need, I mean, it's been one of those years.

In complete and utter seriousness, I GET YOU. And I'm so happy you'll have this time for just you and your guys.

In preparation for the advent of free dining, I had prepared several spreadsheets. Say it with me...disney chic....

These were based on possible MNSSHP dates, where we'd like to eat, and plenty of down time. Heck, it's eight days!

I had finally arrived at my final spreadsheet, entitled Dining for 08 - Plan 3AB...no joke, that's what it was called. I had originally planned to go different dates, but couldn't swing it with the dining dates, so Plan 3A and 3AB were virtually the same, just different dates.

I SWEAR to you, some how, maybe via six degrees of Kevin Bacon, the same blood flows through our veins.

I called back this afternoon and spoke with another lovely CM. Name escapes me. As I canceled this ressie, he said, and I quote "are you nuts?" Yes, CM...yes, I am.

Well, they're nothing if not honest, hmm?

Tonga toast is my holy grail.

Bring me a shrubbery.

I'm sososo glad you started this! And I'm sososo glad you got your ressie despite 80 minutes of the Hold spiel. And I'm sososo glad you will be partaking of as much food as we will. Makes me feel better about the tens of thousands of empty calories I will be consuming over a mere 7 days.

AWESOME start! Can't wait for more. I'm in for the long haul!

 

[TarzansKat]

Alright, I admit it. I don't know how to multi-quote. Here's my cut and paste version. And btw, pecan pie is very sweet, but gud.

Hi! Thanks for me inviting me to the party! Where's the dip?

No, thank you. The tapas and hummus will be served momentarily.

By the way, I'm about to quote the he...ck out of you. Prepared?

Oh yeah! Bring it on...and bring it on again...and a whole bunch of other movies!







I think we should have a Captain Jack swap for our overlapping-by-one-day trips. You know, like some people do that fridge swap thang.

Alright, although I do apprieciate the idea behind the swap, I just don't know if I could swap my Captain Jack...but that obsession will be described shortly...

You got a friend in me.

When the road looks rough ahead...

Mine. Mine. Mine.

That is one of my DS' favorite parts!

No really, did you mean me? Because if that's so, I just have to say you're sweet as pecan pie. Which I hear is terribly sweet. But can't attest to. Because it looks like it will glue my jaw shut.

And if you didn't mean me. I knew that. Really.

Of course I meant you...a duh!

I was going to be an Imagineer.

I bet you would have been awesome!

In all their glorious machismo, don't men like to call them action figures?

We don't pretend in this household... well, only a little.
Rhetorical. Question.

Yup.

You sound blessed. And I love that you call him peanut. I call my godson pork chop.

I have always called him my little peanut. It just seems to fit. Even though he's three and about 41 pounds and 43" tall, he's still my little peanut.

I suddenly feel like I'm in a MasterCard commercial.

I aim to please.

Wow. Is that better or worse than the scum on the barnacles on the scum on the bottom of a sinking ship?

You got me.

Thank you. I now have Shakira in my head.

To further the insanity.

In complete and utter seriousness, I GET YOU. And I'm so happy you'll have this time for just you and your guys.

Me too!

I SWEAR to you, some how, maybe via six degrees of Kevin Bacon, the same blood flows through our veins.

I know! I feel very Romy and Michele's High School Renuion right now!

I'm sososo glad you started this! And I'm sososo glad you got your ressie despite 80 minutes of the Hold spiel. And I'm sososo glad you will be partaking of as much food as we will. Makes me feel better about the tens of thousands of empty calories I will be consuming over a mere 7 days.

AWESOME start! Can't wait for more. I'm in for the long haul!

Be prepared girl, because it's only the beginning....

Of a beautiful friendship....

and my very own pirate pre-trippie....

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

Alright, I admit it. I don't know how to multi-quote. Here's my cut and paste version.

Don't say I never learned ya nuthin'..

You're halfway there. To multi-quote within a single reply, cut down to the items you've deemed worthy of quoting, like you did with your reply to my replies. Then, at the very beginning type the word quote inside of these puppies [ ]. Then, at the end of said quote and before you begin your witty, well-thought response, type this: [/quote]

You have just wrapped a quote into that warm little pale yellow box.

If you want to multi-quote different replies from different people, there's a little "+" sign button near the normal 'Quote' button. Click it.

Nothing will happen.

LOL Yet.

Once you've clicked the little icon for all of the separate replies you want to quote, click 'Post Reply' and they will all appear in a post for you to edit. You can further multi-quote within the multi-quote by using the instructions above.

Easy peasy. Hope that helps!

Be prepared girl, because it's only the beginning....

Of a beautiful friendship....

Awww, TK's gettin' a lil' bit sappy here. Just wait until we get to my sappy chappy. I get all teary just thinking about writing it and I LIVED it. LOL

 

[Charleston Princess]

LOVE IT!!!

I am so glad you booked a family only trip! We finally did it last summer (it was rough telling the rest of the family, but much easier the second and third times ). You will soooo enjoy it! It's so much less stressful!

Pop Century is the best and so is the tied-dyed cheesecake and frozen cokes!

You have very good taste in your ADRs! We have eaten (or will be eating) at all of them! Great minds think alike!

Superheroes and Disney are quite prevalent in our homes too!

Can't wait to read more!

 

[2ScottishPrincesses]

Signing up

 

[TarzansKat]

Thank you to my new loyal fans!

I'll be posting another chapter later, hopefully during DS' nap.

Stay tuned....

 

[Native NYer]

Love your ptr so I have to join in!

Can't wait to read more

 

[TarzansKat]

Love your ptr so I have to join in!

Can't wait to read more

Awesome! Glad to have another minion to brainwash...I mean loyal DISer to entertain!!!!

 

[TarzansKat]

Ah...blissful 3 year old nap time...

is there any sweeter taste on thine tongue?

On a side note, DS and I had a great morning together. I bit the bullet and we visited his future preschool to drop off our registration fee. Read TarzansKat has huge issues with letting her baby go, but knows its best for him. After that, the post office, after that my allergy shot, after that Costco, all during which he was very well behaved. So much so that I offered to buy him McDonald's (here comes the tie in) at which he would prefer a cheese sandwich (that means Cheeseburger Happy Meal for all of you that don't speak toddler) and, he got a new pirate toy! Yes, they still have the pirate and princess happy meals. We are now the proud owners of a pirate ship, which should go very nicely with our other two pirate toys...I mean, action figures...I mean...oh never mind

Now normally, DS will fall asleep on the way home in the car and will promptly wake up as soon as I try to take his coat and shoes off in bed. So this time, I was smart. I mean, it's only taken three years for me to figure this one out. When we got in the car after a lovely meal of salted meat and fried potatoey goodness, I said, DS, it's so hot in here. Let's take off your coat and shoes so you can be comfy!

So, guess what? The transition from car to bed went off without a hitch and I breathed a heavy sigh of relief. I mean, for pete's sake, I had another chapter to write.

Before we get into the what and where of what we're doing on vacation, perhaps I should backtrack and explain the title. In order to do this, we'll be traveling back through time...to yesteryear...sound familiar yet? Oh yes, we're going back to September 2007 Free Dining, Pop Century, my friends. The last trip with the extended fam.

You see, I have a passionate love for Captain Jack Sparrow. I know, I know, who doesn't? Suffice it to say that I have had dreams. Very vivid dreams. Alright, minds out of the gutter, ladies!

You know you're jonesing for a Disney Vacation when you start dreaming about meeting Jack Sparrow in Adventureland and getting your picture taken with him. What is the subconcious mind thinking, besides, wow, he's new hotness!

The subconcious mind is remembering...remembering a sadly missed opporunity. Yes, folks, I missed meeting Captain Jack Sparrow on my last trip. I was hoping maybe he would be at MNSSHP, but he's not. That's cool, I understand, he's got a very tight schedule between all the tutorials and searching for the fountain of youth. But what I didn't know, until I got home and read a few trip reports was this. He was doing test meet and greets! During normal park hours! On days I was in the Magic Kingdom!!!!! And I missed him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I still dream, ladies. I still dream.

Hence the, will TarzansKat meet Captain Jack?

::::sigh:::: We can only hope...

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

We are now the proud owners of a pirate ship, which should go very nicely with our other two pirate toys...I mean, action figures...I mean...oh never mind

Between the two of us and our trips to MickeyD's, we might be able to put together a whole fleet! At least you have a DS as an excuse. I swear, when I was buying those Happy Meals they peered into my backseat, then looked at me and said, "Princess toy?"

Fools.

You see, I have a passionate love for Captain Jack Sparrow. I know, I know, who doesn't? Suffice it to say that I have had dreams. Very vivid dreams. Alright, minds out of the gutter, ladies!

One belongs nowhere BUT in the gutter when speaking of Jack Sparrow dreams.

He was doing test meet and greets! During normal park hours! On days I was in the Magic Kingdom!!!!! And I missed him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I won't let this happen to me. I won't. I refuse to leave the Land of the Large Rodent without a picture of me swooning into his arms.

Hence the, will TarzansKat meet Captain Jack?

See above. After that I'll tie him down and we'll await your arrival. I hope you're faster than Disney security.

Great update!

 

[TarzansKat]

At last, I have found a co-conspirator! We pirate lasses will truly conquer!

 

[2ScottishPrincesses]

TarzansKat I know exactly how you feel about putting your wee person into pre-school, I have been promising to register my youngest since January and never quite got round to it but I'm going to have to if I want to get her into the one in our village as it's very popular. DH is on leave from work next week and he said we'll go together and do it (every feel as though your being shanghied into something )

I also know how you feel about a certain roughishly handsome but that's a whole other story

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

TarzansKat I know exactly how you feel about putting your wee person into pre-school, I have been promising to register my youngest since January and never quite got round to it but I'm going to have to if I want to get her into the one in our village as it's very popular.

Ok. Seriously now. I'm moving to Scotland. You say "wee" and live in a village. I can look past the fact that your darling country has no MHs.

I have always been fascinated with the languages and traditions of other countries. One of my favorite things in Disney is getting to hear accents and talk to people from all over the world. I happen to be particularly partial to: Italian, British, Irish and Scottish.

Sorry TK, didn't mean to hijack your report. Already. I was totally going to wait until at least Page Four to do that.

 

[TarzansKat]

Ok. Seriously now. I'm moving to Scotland. You say "wee" and live in a village. I can look past the fact that your darling country has no MHs.

I have always been fascinated with the languages and traditions of other countries. One of my favorite things in Disney is getting to hear accents and talk to people from all over the world. I happen to be particularly partial to: Italian, British, Irish and Scottish.

Sorry TK, didn't mean to hijack your report. Already. I was totally going to wait until at least Page Four to do that.

Apology accepted. Personally, I am loving the wee Scottish village, too! And I love hearing different accents in the World Showcase. I'm sure to all the various and sundy cast members from foreign countries we sound different, but it's so much fun to hear such a melting pot all in one place.

And I am right there with you on the preschool thing! I know it must be done, and yet,

 

[TarzansKat]

Or the chapter in which my heart breaks into a thousand little pieces, and is stomped all over.

I debated writing this, but since it's part of the reality of the pre-trippie, here goes.

Backstory: (goes way back, bear with)
I was pregnant with DS. In my seventh month, I got put on bed rest. Work convinced me I didn't qualify for FMLA. (They lied, I did, but was too ignorant to know that.) They told me I had to take a personal leave. When I e-mailed my boss about coming back to work after having DS, they then sent me a letter congratulating me on the birth of my son and informing me that my position had been eliminated. I was without job. I chose to stay home for a year with the little peanut. It was great, and I loved it. Then, when DS was 1, DH lost his job. We were now both out of work. We both started looking for work, and found jobs roughly at the same time. I work part time as a bank teller making you know what pay, but I carry our health insurance and work covers half. I literally work for insurance. DH found a job as well, and has been there for two years. Treated well, raises, but neither one of us is making nearly what we're worth. DH's job will not cover our family insurance. They will only pay half the cost of his care, not all of us. We're both treated fairly well, but would love to be doing even a modicum better.

:::woosh::: (That's us rushing back to the present day.)

DH works for a small company, mom & pop owned franchise type establishment. The owners take two vacations per year during which they close the shop. The week of the fourth of July, and the week from Christmas to New Years. DH has no other sick time or PTO. He is "required" to take his vacations then. DH works a second job with my family some weekends involving catering (he's a great chef, my man!) and is working the week of the fourth of July. At the bank, I can't get PTO unless none of the other tellers request it. I can get a couple of days in July, but not the week of Christmas. Therein lies the rub my friends.

Enter free dining! Da da da dum! My way to affordable Disney vacations. We've done it for the past two years. DH has worked for them this whole time. They know us. They know me. I pratically have Disney geek...uh, I mean, chic tatooed across my forhead. We go in September for one week every year and DH does not get paid. It's our choice. We set aside extra money for it, it's part of the vacation fund.

This year, the owners decided to carp all over DH. Yesterday they told him he can't go. He's indespensible, they can't run without him, it's slow right now, business is down, yadda, yadda, blah, blah and fifty other analogies for you really think I'm going to give up my one week per year with my wife and child because you can't hack it one week without me? Okay, not what DH actually said, but what he was thinking. To which they respond, that's why we take off July and Christmas. To which DH replies, wife can't get off than, and we can't afford to go to the World in July. Have you seen those prices???? God bless all of you that get the good deals and can hack it, but for us personally, we're talking about maybe two more years of free dining until DS gets into school full time. I won't be dragging him out then, and I'll be joining all you lovely summer DIS lovers! And still loving it, because, well, it's the World!

Today they told him, they'll think about it. Um, pardon?

We're giving them five months notice! We do this every year. That's plenty of time to find someone to cover his position, and they currently have a part timer who performs similar job functions! DH told them very politely that if it was so difficult to run the shop without him, they could shut it down and take their own vacation to the World.

I am so peeved...ticked...annoyed....and twenty bazillion gagillion other words that probably aren't appropriate for a family board.

You know what? DH doesn't make enough for this kind of stress. I could see if we were doing well. If I didn't have to constantly be aware of every little penny and how its allocated. If we had, oh, I don't know, some breathing room. But we don't. And I've finally learned how to make our finances work. But you know what? DH is worth so much more. I told him it was time to start sending out resumes. September is five months away. Plenty of time to find something else. I even offered to go to work full time and have DH stay home. I'd miss my little peanut, but this is just ridiculous.

And if anyone thinks I'm overreacting, please, please, keep it to yourself. I'm having a moment, and I apologize in advance.

Now where is that monkey??????????????????