I am confused by my countdown ticker and I haven't really payed much attention to it until now. Tomorrow isn't 0 days, it's 1 day. Right? I mean, I leave on Saturday. I know I put the date in right when I did it. Ah well. Least of my worries.
Thank you all so much for your well wishes. If that doesn't make a gal feel special, I don't know what will, my goodness! I am feeling better today, in that I know I am on the mend, and I was doing really well until about a couple of hours ago. Once I got home, sat down, and stopped doing, I basically realized how exhausted I am. I plan on taking a nice big dose of Tylenol and going to bed plenty early.
But not before you all receive the mother of all updates. Because I just haven't felt like writing at great length lately, we're going to go to town on this one and talk about anything and everything that I can possibly think of to you entertain you with my various and sundry trip preparations.
Last night, I sucked it up and I packed. I got on a roll with the tolietries and I just kept going from there. Everything is packed but my unmentionables and last minute items, so that is awesome. One less thing to worry about.
And I am SO proud of myself. I didn't overpack at all. As a matter of fact, I have one spare outfit (in my carryon backpack), and I packed in the smallest suitcase I have. Normally I can't do that, but I made it work, AND I have room to spare. I am so stylin' right now.
This is also because I pack my tolietries in a completely separate bag. If I had to include them in my suitcase, I definitely would need the bigger one, but I really like having them separate. This packing system has worked for me for years, so I don't really deviate. I also managed to fit a tote bag flat in my suitcase (for all the potential souvies). And did I mention there's room???
I'm going to resist the urge to fill it with stuff and remember, we will be getting some clothing items. I'm thinking a cute onesie for the baby, and a nice new tee for my son. Funny to think now that I have to keep the gifting even. Never had to worry about that before, you know?
Do you think it'll be okay if I bring DS a marshmallow candy covered treat from Goofy's, but give the baby a treat while we're down there?
Speaking of food, I hope the kiddo is ready because we are going to be noshing on some majorly fine fare, and I cannot wait. I have been fantasizing with the rapture only a pregnant woman can have about Disney food for the past couple of weeks.
I can't wait to have a Dole Whip float and a hot dog at Casey's. I'm so excited for escargot in France, Cobb Salad and grapefruit cake at the Brown Derby. I know at some point Mom and I will share a big, soft, salty pretzel, and I'm hoping to get popcorn from Main Street as well. Heck, I'll bring it home with me if I don't have room for it, they have those great souvenir buckets!
I want to have a virgin Pina CoLava, and perhaps sip it from the cabana on the GF beach.
I'm really, really looking forward to 1900 Park Fare because I love me a good breakfast buffet, and I am super stoked to meet the Mad Hatter. My mother loves Mary Poppins, so that'll be a nice experience for her, but for me...I want something a little more crazy.
Speaking of mom, she's been awesome these past few weeks. She may not be on the DIS, but she's had her very own countdown going on. Every day I get an e-mail with new pictures in it of things we'll do, or see, or eat. I can't believe the amount of work she's put into this and how excited she is about our trip. I mean, I'm excited, but she's uber-excited. I'll never forgot, but I actually opened one of them in front of her yesterday, and there were a ton of pictures, one of the pirate tutorial.
I looked right at her, and said, "That's the good Jack." She totally laughed at me, but in a good way.
It's funny. I may forget sometimes, but nothing will make you appreciate your own mother more than being pregnant. I know that when I'm pregnant, and when my son was newly born, I had a newfound appreciate for both my parents, but especially for my mom. For doing all this. For carrying me, like I carry/carried my children. It just makes me appreciate her all the more, and no matter how old I get, I know she and my dad think of me as their baby girl.
I was perusing the GF FAQ thread tonight, and read something about turndown service and I thought OMG! Turndown service!!!! I would have totally forgotten about that, I must make a mental note to tell my mother, we must have this! It's one of the beautiful things about staying in a deluxe, I so enjoy coming home to a bed that's been turn downed, with little sweets on your pillow.
I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again. I'm looking forward to the rest, the relaxation, the girliness of the weekend. Looking forward to sleep so much I can taste it.
I have to tell you, last night was the first night in three months that I slept for five consecutive hours 1230 -530 am without waking up to go to the bathroom. When I woke up at 530, I was shocked, and I was in heaven. I was so excited that I made it that long, I am hoping that it continues for the trip, and that it wasn't just a fluke. That would be so awesome!
Earlier in the week, I completed my snack shopping at the grocery store. For my backpack on the plane (and to have in the room for breakfast): Pop Tarts, Granola Bars, Chex Chocolate Snack Mix, Trail Mix (with yogurt covered craisins, yum), and my Trident gum. Because with all the sugar in my snacks, sugar free gum was a good idea!
And if you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you.
Thank God I can still stand the taste of sugar free gum! Anyhoo, I'd ordered some romance novels (I like light reading for vacation) through interlibrary loan in the hopes that I could take a couple of them on the plane. Imagine my surprise when they were all hardcover! Previously, I'd gotten books through loan by the same author, same series of romance novels, and they were paperback.
So today, off I trucked to Walmart after work to :::GASP::: buy a book. I used to be addicted to purchasing books. No joke. For quite a long time in middle, high school, and I would say most of college, Barnes and Noble was my favorite store, and if I had extra money, it would all go to books.
The trouble is that I go through books like people drink water. I finish books in a couple of days, a week at the very most (if I'm really running around and don't have a lot of time). I've always loved to read, love English, love writing, scored high on my English SATS, had a college reading level in fifth grade, you get the idea.
So for me to spend money on something that is going to be over in a day or two is really tough for me. That's why I love that in the past couple of years, I have rediscovered my love of the library. Any addictive behavior I may have towards books has now been channeled into a free outlet! What heaven I am in that I can take out as many books as I want, that I always have something to read.
For those of you who remember Jiri, it's like she said, she always has a stack of books on her night table to read, and she thinks that when she dies, she'll still have unread books sitting there. I don't mean to be morbid at all, but I feel the same way. My life is more fufilled when I have books to read.
So after that explanation, you can understand that it is with GREAT trepidation that I actually deign to spend the money on a book.
To Walmart I went. To find something. Anything. Speak to me. Say, you must own me.
And you know what I ended up with?
Julie and Julia.
I have to say, it's primarily because I saw the movie and cryed like a baby. It is so good, that I want to read it. And want to own it. And it takes a lot for me to say that. That's how you know, if I ever recommend a book to you, it will be because I truly, truly enjoyed it.
Sorry about the tirade. It took me a half an hour to pick that book, so it bears a little dignifying in my pre trip report. And honestly? If I don't take a nap on the plane, I will probably finish the dang thing.
I'm hoping I nap though. I want to be well rested. I want to get to the Grand Flo and have the ambition to go the bar at Citrico's with my mom (she is really dying to go to Citrico's). I want to get there and be able to breathe and enjoy it and not just think, thank god, a place to lay down and sleep.
In a few short days, I'll be there.
Reflecting on how we planned our whole trip in 18 days...or less.
Next Chapter
Saying a prayer that you start to feel better and this cold goes away very quickly!
The weather on Fri looks great- Sat not so much. I do hope you have great weather and enjoy yourself prior to the baby!
your way!
