ABCs of a Nursing School Grad Trip + FL Keys Mini Report;D is for: Dang! Last Chapter of this TR...

pkondz · Oct 26, 2016

Steppesister said:
They have really done a fantastic job on the refurb. I really, really thought it was a beautiful place to enjoy, but that's getting WAY ahead of myself.

Better than getting behind yourself.

Steppesister said:
Yes, I"m sure by the time it's all said and done, you'll be crying just like that ^^.

I doubt that.

Steppesister said:
If you mean Smart Alek, then yes.

Whoops!

Steppesister said:
Turned out ok... in the end.

You're talking about your 'end' now? First your behind, and now your end?
There's a trend here.

Steppesister said:
Yeah, I might lose my camera. Or phone.

Or get a hickie.

Steppesister said:
Yes. Clip-ons= Cool But I did wear my tiara which more than made up for that.

I would expect no less.

Steppesister said:
And don't you forget it!

Never!

uh... forget what?

Steppesister said:
There is no possible way for that to happen with how the costumes are set up. Just sayin'.

<phew!>

Steppesister said:
I'll let you all be the judge of that.

Oh, we will. We're a judgy lot.

Steppesister said:
Surreal? The vacation, yes. The re-entry.... very real, like a bucket of icy water right in the face

ouch

Steppesister said:
Did she also throw in the bit about the paramedics and ER staff seeing them if you were in an accident and knowing if they were clean or not? I'm really not why that'd matter since we cut them off anyway.

And... see above comment re: "judgy".

Steppesister said:
Nailed it!

afwdwfan · Oct 26, 2016

Steppesister said:
I have .... stories. Mickey may or may not approve.

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but what happens in Disney gets shared on the Disboards. :thumbsup2

pkondz said:
If Mickey doesn't approve..... then they're better stories.

Steppesister said:
I am back. Finally, truly back.

Already? Whoa! What the heck happened to this epically long trip?

Welcome back!

vamassey1 · Oct 26, 2016

Steppesister said:
I actually got my RN in June and am ready to now "give back" a bit. Hopefully, some trips coming up with my Surgical Center soon-ish.

Even better! My Mom had her RN, but not something I could ever do. I pass out at the sight of blood. :crazy2:

Steppesister · Oct 26, 2016

Ok, I've spend all morning reading as many TR's as I could, but I really need to get some food rations in my house, take a Xanax and look at my Chase Visa statement, rotate load #3 in, and start writing the first Chapter. I'm going to take full advantage of my extremely quiet house, and get my creative on.

If I didn't quite make it to yours, please be patient.

I will get there...

afwdwfan · Oct 26, 2016

Steppesister said:
take a Xanax and look at my Chase Visa statement

After this trip??? That's brave.

You're gonna need more than Xanax.

franandaj · Oct 26, 2016

Steppesister said:
Wait! I guess my aging mind is not remembering this, or maybe I didn't realize? Where are you going??

We have our annual National Band Organization convention. We couldn't go last year as Fran OD'd on her RA drugs and over-compromised her immune system. Her doc told her to avoid large crowds, so being in a room of about 150 other folks blowing hot air through their instruments was out of the question. This year it's in Palm Springs so not far to go!

Steppesister said:
OH come on. Everyone knows undies have 2 sides.

Steppesister said:
I am trying! Laundry is halfway done, and the dishes are under control. Food in the house, though, is an altogether different story.

That's what freezers are for! Even if I don't have fresh produce there's always something there. Even if it isn't a balanced meal.

Steppesister said:
Ok, I've spend all morning reading as many TR's as I could, but I really need to get some food rations in my house, take a Xanax and look at my Chase Visa statement, rotate load #3 in, and start writing the first Chapter. I'm going to take full advantage of my extremely quiet house, and get my creative on.

Sounds busy!

Steppesister said:
If I didn't quite make it to yours, please be patient. I will get there...

That's OK, the TRs aren't going anywhere soon .

Steppesister · Oct 26, 2016

A is for: Almost Launch Time

***Warning: This could be the driest Chapter in the whole TR. I apologize in advance; on the bright side, things do get better.

A trip to Disney never begins with just getting on the plane. At least not for this girl. In many ways, I feel like the many events leading up to, all the planning, and the camaraderie found amongst friends old and new here have all been a part of this trip; they’ve all served to make the trip all it could have been and was. And there’s no better way to start off a Trip Report than with a grand example of a run-on sentence like that one.

While I mull over the various options of how to format this, what may prove to be quite lengthy, TR, I will default to sharing with you the last preparations for Launch. That’s “launch”, L.A.U.N.C.H, not lunch. Lunch will be in the next chapter. Foodies, be patient.

If you’ll recall, we left the house on a Sunday. I worked Thursday and Friday, so took the Wednesday before the trip to begin The Beautification Process. Every Disney trip must have one. I mean if a lady is to wear a tiara, said lady should probably make at least a small attempt to look good in it, no? And if one is to sit by the pool, shouldn’t her toes say, “I’ve been looking forward to this!”?

First was the hair work. See how beautiful it is?

Oh wait! Sorry, wrong one. Please try to peel your eyes off of the irresistibly attractive double chin and crow’s feet.

This is the one I was looking for:

Yes, I filtered it so you weren’t scarred for life by seeing the aging that living in a 3rd world country for 10 years can inflict. Ahem…. I do love getting the mop trimmed and the color freshened up, and being a red head puts me in just the right spunky enough mood to tackle the coasters and for getting my mermaid on. And it goes without saying that it enhances my prowess in sarcasm and sass. It also reminds me of my favorite scene in PoTC... "How much for the red head?!?"

Next, it was time for the Disney nail job. I only do pedies because those are the only nails I have that don’t look like they’ve gone through a chipper Fargo-style. There are worse habits to have- don’t judge.

I had ordered not one, but 2 sets of Disney/Mickey nail decals for The Beautification Process, but both sets have STILL not arrived. That made me rather sad. I’d ordered them weeks before, thinking it was plenty of time, but apparently a package the size of a personal letter is really tough to get here from China. I could have walked there and back by now to pick them up myself. Assuming I could walk on water. I’ve almost got it down, though. I did some more practicing on the trip.

Since there was a glaring lack of Mickey heads and castles, I went with 2nd best: hand drawn classics by my nail tech. Considering his tool was a Q-tip, he didn’t do too badly. Yes, it was a clean Q-tip.

Now, in the distant past, there has been some discussion regarding these dogs.

@glennbo123 , this one’s for you. See?! They ARE NOT hairy! However, I will neither confirm nor deny that that has been “taken care of”. I also want to point out the cut on the side of my 2nd toe- see it? There on the right side above the ring? Yeah, that’s where I karate kicked Michaela the day before and lost. She is just way too fast for me to spar with anymore; her ring left a lasting impression that was sore for days.

With both hair and nails done, I had one more appointment to keep. But that wasn’t until Saturday. This was perhaps the one that I was probably looking most forward to. First a bit of background:

When we lived in Crapistan, each year our company would have a yearly conference somewhere. Usually it was in Thailand, but we also went to Turkey, and once to Dubai. It was there in Dubai where we first experienced the art of henna and learned about the culture that surrounds it. It is generally done for very special occasions like weddings. All of us girls got a small tattoo on that trip which wore off in about 3 weeks. Perfect for me, since I will never get a permanent one. Several reasons, the biggest being that I am just too easily bored and know I’d grow tired of looking at the thing day after day. I know they hold special meaning for a lot of people; they just aren’t my thing. Henna however, can be changed up and just about the time I’m over it, it’s gone. This trip, being a super huge celebration, called for some henna. I asked the girls if they wanted some too, but they declined. I was willing to pony up for all 3 of us, and when they said no, I did what anyone who thinks that money grows on trees would do: I spent it all on myself and got 3 times as much henna as I originally thought I’d do. In the end, I was very, very happy with her art and that I’d done it. It was the single most thing that I got complimented on by a long shot- far more than the congratulations I got from my green “I’m Celebrating” pin.

Kelly, the artist and owner of Half Moon Henna, who I’ve used before, took about an hour for both hands. And for those of you who are curious, it was $60. I looked at the prices for what they do in the Morocco Pavilion and basically I could get the amount that is JUST the part near my thumbs- the flower only… NOT including the vines- for around $25. What a total and complete rip off.Oh wait! I’ll bet you’d like to see the finished (well almost anyway) design.

YAY! The Beautification Process is Complete!

If you’re not familiar with the process, a paste of the henna dye powder mixed with oils is piped onto the skin. This needs to remain there untouched for a minimum of 5 or so hours- the longer it sits the longer your tattoo will hang on. Kelly gave me some medical tape to cover mine with and I let mine sit covered overnight. In the morning, I took the tape off and the dried paste peeled off nicely leaving a gorgeous orange-ish-red stain. You’ll see it a lot in the pictures from the trip. It was nice and bright right up until about the time I left for The Keys- perfect timing to see it fade since I’d be in the salt water anyway.

But a neat story that I wanted to pass along:

We had decided that a Starbucks about halfway between our towns was a good place to meet up. I mean any place with coffee is a pretty good place to meet up for any reason. Or no reason at all. When she was almost done, a beautiful young lady walked in wearing a hijab and briefly paused by our table with a look of longing in her eyes. She went off to the counter and ordered her drink, but on her way back towards the door she hesitated just long enough for me to say hello. I asked her where she was from and went on to ask if seeing henna made her homesick at all. She, without missing a beat, said she was from Saudi and that yes, it did make her miss home. She complemented the artist’s work telling her it was “very good job”. We learned that she was a student at OSU, the school where both of our daughters are studying. Kelly gave her a business card and told her that her daughter is also a henna artist and would love to meet her at school and talk. I think we brightened her day some. I remember all too well how much it lifted our spirits when we’d experience just a little of our home culture or get to speak English with others outside of our family.

Lastly, somewhere between Wednesday and Sunday, the final Mickey Mail arrived! Some girls get all giddy over jewelry, or the latest episode of the Walking Dead, or a pair of new shoes. I can’t think of anything that gets my motor revved like a bit of this:

A whole stack of things that would be useful from Brook! But perhaps best of all, our luggage tags! Now, aside from zipping them up, we could load them in the car.

It was great to know that Brook was just a phone call or text away… would we end up doing that?

I left this little beauty with Mike. Sorry for the crappy photo.

(turns out , I should have left him with a hulluva lot more than this)

And I can’t rave enough about THESE! In the end, I used these even more than I used my little books. But again, I’ll get to that, as I’ve learned a few things along the way this trip.

And now for your mystery "A" photo. Not part of any contest, just for fun. We'll start off easy this time for a warm up:

This brings me up to Travel Day #1. That’s where the better (good?) stuff really starts to happen. But that’s for another day and time. Until then, Live long and Prosper, Dear Friends!

Steppesister · Oct 26, 2016

pkondz said:
Better than getting behind yourself.

You mind your own behind. Mine's big enough to barely manage on my own.

pkondz said:
You're talking about your 'end' now? First your behind, and now your end?
There's a trend here.

Perhaps it's the back to the watching what I eat again routine.

pkondz said:
And... see above comment re: "judgy".

Well, ok, I *might* judge a little, but if they're Capt. America, it's an auto A+.

afwdwfan said:
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but what happens in Disney gets shared on the Disboards.

Well, as long as it stays here then.

Just between the few of us (thousand).

afwdwfan said:
Already? Whoa! What the heck happened to this epically long trip?

Welcome back!

The longer, more enjoyable, and better a trip is, the faster it will vanish into Madame Leotas lair.

vamassey1 said:
Even better! My Mom had her RN, but not something I could ever do. I pass out at the sight of blood.

Awww, blood is no big deal for me; it's the green goo that is coughed up that will send me away gagging faster than a 10 day Disney trip is over.

afwdwfan said:
After this trip??? That's brave.

You're gonna need more than Xanax.

I did it. Went over by about a grand, but there was enough to cover and pay it. Which I did. The vodka and raspberry spritzer was very nice.

Poolrat · Oct 26, 2016

And I am now caught up here!!!!!! Hopefully I will be able to catch up everywhere soon.

Steppesister · Oct 26, 2016

franandaj said:
We have our annual National Band Organization convention. We couldn't go last year as Fran OD'd on her RA drugs and over-compromised her immune system. Her doc told her to avoid large crowds, so being in a room of about 150 other folks blowing hot air through their instruments was out of the question. This year it's in Palm Springs so not far to go!

AH, gotcha! That actually sounds really fun! Bummer she missed out last year, but it sounds like you two are all set up to make up for it this time around. Love me some Palm Springs! Both of my proms were there, and we go for dinner pretty often.

franandaj said:
That's what freezers are for! Even if I don't have fresh produce there's always something there. Even if it isn't a balanced meal.

Yeah, I haven't had such things since school ended. Just haven't re-stocked since graduation. But need to.

franandaj said:
Sounds busy!

Always.

franandaj said:
That's OK, the TRs aren't going anywhere soon .

True enough. I"m making progress, but it's slow.

Steppesister · Oct 26, 2016

Poolrat said:
And I am now caught up here!!!!!! Hopefully I will be able to catch up everywhere soon.

It's a tough slog sometimes getting through it all. I do enjoy it, but it does take time for sure!

MAGICFOR2 · Oct 27, 2016

Sorry you had to come back to the real world, but I'm sure you are already planning another trip!
Nice artwork!

jandlinz · Oct 27, 2016

Your hair is super sassy and cute! I also love the nails. The henna is beautiful and I'm sure you made that woman's day. Can't wait to read more!

Captain_Oblivious · Oct 27, 2016

Steppesister said:
take a Xanax and look at my Chase Visa statement

afwdwfan said:
You're gonna need more than Xanax.

Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue.

Steppesister said:
I worked Thursday and Friday, so took the Wednesday before the trip to begin The Beautification Process. Every Disney trip must have one.

Really? Oh, man, I had no idea. I think I messed up all of my prior Disney trips.

Steppesister said:
I had ordered not one, but 2 sets of Disney/Mickey nail decals for The Beautification Process, but both sets have STILL not arrived.

Well...that's annoying.

Steppesister said:
Assuming I could walk on water. I’ve almost got it down, though. I did some more practicing on the trip.

It's all in the ankles. And in how you define "water".

Steppesister said:
@glennbo123 , this one’s for you. See?! They ARE NOT hairy!

Wow, there's a blast from the past!

Steppesister said:
I also want to point out the cut on the side of my 2nd toe- see it? There on the right side above the ring? Yeah, that’s where I karate kicked Michaela the day before and lost. She is just way too fast for me to spar with anymore; her ring left a lasting impression that was sore for days.

Sounds like it's time to start fighting dirty.

Steppesister said:

$60 for THAT?! HA! What a ripoff! I'll put paper towels on your hand for $60! Sheesh.

Steppesister said:

Oh, I mean, uh...Wow. That's pretty amazing work.

Steppesister said:
She, without missing a beat, said she was from Saudi and that yes, it did make her miss home. She complemented the artist’s work telling her it was “very good job”. We learned that she was a student at OSU, the school where both of our daughters are studying. Kelly gave her a business card and told her that her daughter is also a henna artist and would love to meet her at school and talk. I think we brightened her day some.

What a neat little chance encounter. I bet she doesn't always feel "at home" here, and I bet that helped.

Steppesister said:
Lastly, somewhere between Wednesday and Sunday, the final Mickey Mail arrived! Some girls get all giddy over jewelry, or the latest episode of the Walking Dead, or a pair of new shoes. I can’t think of anything that gets my motor revved like a bit of this:

Mickey Mail is THE BEST mail. Period.

Steppesister said:
I left this little beauty with Mike.

Rule #1: Dad is always low man on the totem pole.

JPFamilyMom · Oct 27, 2016

Love the Henna... it was complete with Mickey, very cool!!! I'll try to not be such a lurker, I'm finally getting the hang of the DIS again. I did good commenting at the beginning of the PTR, but then life happened, and DIS time was minimal so I would just click links to catch up on reports. I'm back in school in part due to your inspiration. I won't be a fabulous nurse like you, but I'm going to finish a degree if it kills me

Truly I'm just trying to finish my first term, while working seasonal overnights at a retail giant, homeschool my youngest, and help my oldest be successful at his new school. I'm super excited to take breaks to see how you celebrated your great accomplishments!!!!

irene_dsc · Oct 27, 2016

Steppesister said:
I worked Thursday and Friday, so took the Wednesday before the trip to begin The Beautification Process. Every Disney trip must have one.

Definitely sounds like a vacation tradition I ought to start! Fresh haircut, if nothing else. Yours looks super cute!

Steppesister said:
I remember all too well how much it lifted our spirits when we’d experience just a little of our home culture or get to speak English with others outside of our family.

Awww. What a sweet moment.

Steppesister said:
(turns out , I should have left him with a hulluva lot more than this)

I'm wondering now. Did he accidentally pack feminine hygiene products for himself?

Steppesister said:
And I can’t rave enough about THESE! In the end, I used these even more than I used my little books. But again, I’ll get to that, as I’ve learned a few things along the way this trip.

Those look really useful. I just had printed out itineraries - I don't think I did day by day ones.

Steppesister · Oct 27, 2016

MAGICFOR2 said:
Sorry you had to come back to the real world, but I'm sure you are already planning another trip!
Nice artwork!

The real world is the only place I can make money so I can get back out.

Guam is next....

jandlinz said:
Your hair is super sassy and cute! I also love the nails. The henna is beautiful and I'm sure you made that woman's day. Can't wait to read more!

Thanks! It was a fun afternoon getting the henna done.

Captain_Oblivious said:
Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue.

What, the brain damage was getting to you?

Captain_Oblivious said:
Really? Oh, man, I had no idea. I think I messed up all of my prior Disney trips.

No nails and hair, not a valid trip.

Captain_Oblivious said:
It's all in the ankles. And in how you define "water".

That's it! It was that ankle surgery I had a few years back that messed it all up. I'm suing!

Captain_Oblivious said:
Sounds like it's time to start fighting dirty.

I could offer her steak midway through.....

Captain_Oblivious said:
That's pretty amazing work.

I thought so, and I'm glad it's gone. 3 weeks was enough.

Captain_Oblivious said:
and I bet that helped.

I hope so. I've been in her shoes and it's a tough slog.

Captain_Oblivious said:
Rule #1: Dad is always low man on the totem pole.

That's funny, I thought Dad is the only man on the totem pole.

Steppesister · Oct 27, 2016

JPFamilyMom said:
Love the Henna... it was complete with Mickey, very cool!!!

The not-so-hidden Mickey was my idea... It really needed one!

JPFamilyMom said:
I'll try to not be such a lurker, I'm finally getting the hang of the DIS again.

No lurking allowed! Well, it's allowed, but no nearly as much fun!

JPFamilyMom said:
I'm back in school in part due to your inspiration.

Awwwww, that's a very sweet thing to say. I'm glad I could motivate you to finish it up- you will NOT be sorry!

JPFamilyMom said:
I won't be a fabulous nurse like you, but I'm going to finish a degree if it kills me

But you will be a fabulous something, though!!!

JPFamilyMom said:
Truly I'm just trying to finish my first term

One. Day. Atta. Time!!!!!

JPFamilyMom said:
while working seasonal overnights at a retail giant, homeschool my youngest, and help my oldest be successful at his new school

See?! You ARE already fabulous!

JPFamilyMom said:
I'm super excited to take breaks to see how you celebrated your great accomplishments!!!!

We're only getting warmed up!! Loads to come...

Steppesister · Oct 27, 2016

irene_dsc said:
Definitely sounds like a vacation tradition I ought to start! Fresh haircut, if nothing else. Yours looks super cute!

It really helps me get in the mindset of vacay. And helps with the dreaded pictures that you know are going to happen.

irene_dsc said:
Awww. What a sweet moment.

irene_dsc said:
I'm wondering now. Did he accidentally pack feminine hygiene products for himself?

Huh! I didn't even ask! Considering some of the other mistakes.... that would have been the least of my worries.

irene_dsc said:
Those look really useful. I just had printed out itineraries - I don't think I did day by day ones.

The day-by-day ones were SO AMAZING!!! Totes going to do this from now on. But a LOT more on this at some point....

afwdwfan · Oct 27, 2016

Steppesister said:
While I mull over the various options of how to format this, what may prove to be quite lengthy, TR, I will default to sharing with you the last preparations for Launch. That’s “launch”, L.A.U.N.C.H, not lunch. Lunch will be in the next chapter. Foodies, be patient.

Damn it! Now I'm hungry!

Steppesister said:
I looked at the prices for what they do in the Morocco Pavilion and basically I could get the amount that is JUST the part near my thumbs- the flower only… NOT including the vines- for around $25. What a total and complete rip off

Well, Disney prices usually are...

Steppesister said:
(turns out , I should have left him with a hulluva lot more than this)

I just noticed that you put feminine hygiene on his packing list. I'm sure he appreciated that.

Also, bug spray? They give that stuff away now, don't they?

Steppesister said:
And now for your mystery "A" photo. Not part of any contest, just for fun. We'll start off easy this time for a warm up:

Um... Animation.

ABCs of a Nursing School Grad Trip + FL Keys Mini Report;D is for: Dang! Last Chapter of this TR...

Brace yourself for immediate disintegration

DIS Dad #460

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DIS Dad #460

I'm so happy, I could BOUNCE!

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

I am alive, sometimes I wonder too.

DIS Veteran

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Condimentessa

DIS Veteran

DIS Dad #257, Galactic Salad Dodger

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DIS Dad #460

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