Oh Florida! An East Meets West Girl's TR: 8/9 p56 & 8/17 p57

[Pinkocto]

Uh oh, that sounds ominous about Denny's travels

 

[MEK]

Holy Moley! I think you raced today- Saturday... (have to get my butt onto FB) I'm guessing you did really well... and for goodness sakes -just doing it is an enormous accomplishment!

We actually raced on 2/22 which was a Sunday. But thanks for thinking about us a whole day ahead of time! I, for one, needed all the support I could get! Cynthia did really well. I did OK. A little worse than I would have liked, but I did it!

I love that you find DTD ummm--- an intense sensory experience - I always chalked up that I had that reaction up to the fact that we're usually there for dinner- and I've had a drink or two and been in the parks during the day ergo I'm tired and the whole thing is fun but kind of trippy - I'd actually like to spend some day light hours there...

I went to the new DTD - soon to be Disney Springs - before we came home last weekend. I loved it. So. much. better. It's really WOD that I find so overwhelming (an apparently I am not alone). DTD is sort of hectic, but fun!

Hurray for Dismeets!

Right on! I loved DIS meets! They are the BEST!

I personally love Spaceship Earth... I'm such a history nerd- I love it... in fact I swore I could smell that smokey smell from fall of Rome- and then I realized that it was coming from my fireplace...

You are too funny! Hopefully you won't be needing that fireplace anymore this spring - or soon to be spring! I love SE too! It's an awesome attraction. My kids love it too!

Ohhhh- I'm dying of suspense about the run...

It was a great experience. I would definitely recommend a Disney race to anyone. It was so well organized.

I think I saw on Cynthia's FB yesterday that the run is tomorrow, so I still have time to wish you all a great run! Although with the time difference hopefully you are all resting soundly in bed for a very early rise!

Have fun tomorrow!

Thanks for the good wishes. We did try to get to sleep very early, but that did NOT go so well for me. I got interrupted 3 times between 8:45pm and 10pm. The last time was because Denny's flight got canceled. Let's just say I never really went back to sleep that night, which totally stunk for running the next day

But we did it and that's the main thing!

Congratulations Ladies! You all did GREAT!

Thanks Marv and thanks for taking my hat! And for cheering for me!

I hope you have/had a great race day! I hope it isn't as cold in Florida as it is in Virginia although today is supposed to be in the 40's then colder again after today with more wintery mix this week. Hope your weather and trip is great.

Thanks! We actually had really nice weather for race day. We didn't need any throw aways before the race. The temperature was totally comfortable at 5:30am. The sun did come out later in the race. It felt a little warm to me, but nothing crazy.


As far as overall weather - I've had much better weather, but compared to the mid atlantic, it was awesome. No complaints!

Hope you had a great race!

Thanks. We had great weather for the race. It would have been perfect if I had slept more the night before, but what a great experience. I have nothing but positives to say.

 

[MEK]

Hope you had a fun race and got to enjoy it a little! Way to go!

Christine

Thanks Christine. It was tough, but the overall experience was really positive! I'm so glad I participated!

Can't wait to hear all about your race

Overall, it was a great experience. Great enough that I am considering registering for next year. Denny wants to do the 10K, so I'm not positive if I will do that or the 1/2 again.

Hope the race was great!! Can't wait to read about it and see pics!

Thanks! The race was an amazing experience. I am so glad I participated. I'm not so sure about my pictures. I look like a hot mess in all of them, so you might not be seeing too many here.

HI Everyone! I am on my way home now, Mary Ellen still have several days of vacation left. Which is good!!!! We had a blast at the race!!!

Cynthia - I fully expected to see an update from you. And now I see you are traveling to Hawaii again for work. Are you ever home?

It was a great experience. I am very glad I decided to do that race!

She is lucky! I'm glad you had a good time at the race. I know you have spring break, but I can't wait until the B'day bash with you all, I'm getting really excited for that and we have a WDW trip in between, but I'm getting all excited for that after the fact. But back to this, you have TR to update from back in May! I'll shut up about the future!

I did enjoy the rest of my vacation, even though the weather wasn't perfect. It was still way better than being home.

And you go ahead and tell her - time for an update! Just because I'm a slacker doesn't mean she has an excuse!

Looking forward to the write-up.

I think we really do have to do a special edition PHM write up! It was quite an experience and fun to talk about.

Beautiful running shots. Love the bridge one.

Thanks! I loved running from OKW over to SSR. It's such a great place to run. Just perfect and really one of my favorite running areas.

Why doesn't Denny like the SRL? Fear of riding alone?

Yeah probably! No, seriously - I have NO idea. It's just one of his weird idiosyncrasies. I totally will never understand it and I am no longer trying to change it.

Yay for someone actually knowing how to work a camera and frame it perfectly around the topiaries behind you!

I know, right? Thank goodness we finally got a good shot!

You acutally have a good SE photo of yourself! Mine never come out good, or they come out blurry, or half my face is
gone

I know what you mean. Usually my face looks like a piece of swiss cheese. Stay tuned - there may or many not be an example of that in the next update. Just sayin....

LOL!!! Love your TT photo. You're by 'yourself' yet, you're the only one that looks like you're having the most fun!

Of course I am! Those darn boring people in the car with me!

AHHH! The Muppet topiaries are brilliant!

They really are. I loved the Frozen topiaries I saw on this trip. They were really amazing!

Wonderful! Loved seeing the FB photos

Cynthia posted some fun race pictures! I look like a hot mess in all of mine. Really NOT my best look!

 

[GoofyFan1515]

Denny had travel issues.............???

 

[MEK]

So glad to hear you had fun at the race!!! Lucky Mary Ellen for getting a few extra days! Can't wait to hear all about your time together!

We did have a lot of fun, despite the fact that it was really hard - at least for me. And I totally enjoyed those extra days. Lots of fun to be had!

Can't wait to hear more!! Glad you both had a great race and few days at WDW.

We are definitely going to have to do a race recap. It was a great experience and it was even better to have a week of vacation left after I finished it!

I am SO excited for your birthday bash! I must have mentioned it oh...a bazillion times during the trip. The future keeps us going for sure!

Right on with the future. Planning one event is never enough anymore. I have to line up a whole string of trips!

I am here I th9ink?????

You ARE in the right place Rosie! You totally crack me UP!

I'm back. You're back. All caught up!

Welcome back Dee! I am sure you are way more caught up than I am! It looks like you had a great job at the dark side. Is there a TR? You did start a pre TR, didn't you? Or am I imagining it? Anything is possible at this point.

Congrats to everybody on the runs!

Thanks!

What pretty pictures from your morning run. I really like the golf course one that Glenn commented about. Gorgeous.

Thank you! That is a beautiful area to run. I really love it over there.

Test Track is cool, and I don't care if I do the design phase or not. Mark doesn't really like single rider either. When we were at Universal, I suggested it a couple of times on the rides that didn't have express pass and he didn't want to do it.

Really? Denny and he would get along just great. I think Denny thinks he is taking a spot from a kid who needs it much more than he does. That's my theory and I'm sticking to it!

Awesome group picture! Thank you talented stranger.

Amen to that! We finally got a picture! YAYAYAYAYAY!

I Spaceship Earth too. I could take pictures all day long in there (and would still be crappy) but it annoys my family. But when I am alone...

Really? They don't like you taking pictures? Oh wow - they would hate riding with me. I can't stop. I swear its an addiction.

What pretty flower pictures from the Festival Center.

'

Thank you!

Great exit pictures on Test Track- love the ones just before you break through the wall, and then outside.

I love taking pictures at the point in the ride. It's cool to capture the door opening wider.

Nice World Showcase stroll.

:

I could go back right now and do that all afternoon!

 

[MEK]

I am slowly catching up friends. Once I get caught up here then I will try my best to get caught up on everyone else's TRs. It's a process I'm telling you!

 

[GoofyFan1515]

On this new DIS, a very PAINFUL process..........

 

[Steppesister]

Hi Ladies! Just making some rounds to see what's what around here. Been over a week that I've had a chance to really scope things out. Welcome back, if I hadn't said it before. You both finished and well... that's pretty darned amazing!

 

[dizneeat]

On this new DIS, a very PAINFUL process..........

Marv, once you get used to it and discover all the new features, it's a GREAT new DIS!

 

[rndmr2]

I have not been on the Dis much in the past few days, but I am so sorry to hear about your little Kitty.

 

[podsnel]

Hello Ladies- just catching up- LOVED reading about your surprise, MEK! So nice to see people unexpectedly that way, and riding rides with DISfriends? That's the BEST!

And so sorry about your cat.
Love that mug on the verandah, Cynthia!

Looking forward to reading more!

 

[eandesmom]

Ok loser here is called out but yes I am on another work trip and sadly, flying over the ocean means no wifi! Lol. I am hoping to write an update while here but so far have had little computer time. Then again I "could" have been on the computer and DIS but...ran 7 miles in Hawaii instead. Not terribly sorry for that. I am however sorry I wore shorts and not knickers. Silly me left my new shorts that I wore for PHM at home so they'd be clean for the St. Patricks day race we are doing Sunday. Kind of forgot why I stopped wearing shorts for runs over 6 miles in warm weather. My thighs reminded me.

Didn't help that I lost a full day to frozen downed computers. Good/bad news is I've a new work one but it definitely took a chink out of my free time.

So....hope to get an update up tomorrow night. Well, really Friday am given the time difference for most!

 

[MEK]

Yes it was quite a mission that Pat gave us !! She told us to find out which Prk MEK was going to that night !!Well when she said none , the texts started flying on the QT of course !!When we headed to do some hopping , which was our ploy to delay MEK till Pat and Marv arrived . Carol was the official TEXTER and the whispering was Carol telling me what Pat had replied . We were complete idiots with the shopping darting all over to look at something we had NO interest in at ll. It was not hard to figure out that MEK was politely going along with our crazy shopping Finally she said good bye and that was when Pat had to stall her with a direct TEXT! But the look on MEK's face whn she turned and saw Marv who was chatting to us and smiling as he knew MEK had not seen him!!What agreat evening that was

I totally did NOT expect to see Marv there. That totally threw me for a loop. Sneaky. Sneaky. Sneaky. You guys actually did surprise me. I really thought you both just enjoyed shopping. You did a good job!

Welcome back, Mary Ellen! Congratulations on your race - it's an accomplishment, no matter what.

Thank you! I do see it as an accomplishment because it wasn't anything I could even entertain a year ago. I may even do it again.

I'm so sorry to hear about your cat! It's always tough to loose a pet. They really are additional family members. Take all the time you need.

Thank you. We were so sad to have to put her to sleep, but I am grateful she did not stop eating while we were away. That would have been much worse.

Mary Ellen, I am so very sorry to hear about your cat. Pets are precious members of the family. Please know I'm sending you a .

Thank you! We were really sad to have to put her to sleep. It was very unexpected and we're still not sure if it was cancer or not. Not that it matters.

On a more positive note, a huge congrats on finishing the race! You get huge points from me for doing it to begin with!

Thank you! The race was amazingly well run and a great experience. I am very happy I did it.

So sorry about your cat @MEK.

Thank you! I appreciate it. We were sorry to lose our Jewel.

 

[MEK]

Welcome home!

Thanks! I can't believe I have been back for almost two weeks. Crazy!

Spoiler alert...

And PR or not, congratulations to you both for running the race!

Thank you! Mine was definitely not PR material, but considering the last time I did a 1/2 marathon was at least 15 years ago, I guess I have nothing to be disappointed about. I'm thrilled I had the chance to participate.

I'm sorry to hear about this. Not a lot of fun to return home and have to deal with.

Thanks. No, it was not what we wanted to find when we got home. But I am grateful that she did not get ill while we were away. That would have been terrible.

I'm so sorry about your Jewel

Thanks Pam. She will be missed. She was a good cat.

So sorry to hear about your baby. I've been there and know how hard it is to go through that.

Thank you! It is always so sad to put an animal to sleep. It's a tough decision, even though its the right one. We'll miss her.

Sorry to read about your cat Mary Ellen.

Thanks Glenn. Our little Jewel is in kitty heaven. I hope she loves it there.

Congrats to you and Cynthia on the race!

Thank you! It was a great experience and I am actually considering doing it again.

Welcome back, Mary Ellen!

Congratulations on our run!

Thanks Karin. I really enjoyed doing a Disney race. It was a great experience. No regrets!

So sorry to hear about your precious furbaby. It's so hard to lose one of those purring little charmers.

Thank you! Yes - it is terrible to lose a pet. Cats are pretty amazing. They are able to remain stoic for such a long period of time.

 

[shan23877]

I'm really sorry to hear about Jewel Mary Ellen. My thoughts are with you.

 

[PrincessInOz]

@MEK So sorry about Jewel. You did the right thing. We had to put our 18 year old princess down last year and it was the hardest thing that DH and I did. She was not the first cat we put down but she was pretty special to DH and me. We still wish we had more time with her and that she was here with us; but we knew it was the right decision. Her quality of life was not fun for those last 3 months and we could see it in her eyes those last few days. That's when we knew that we were being selfish. Peace and long life to you and your family.

 

[eandesmom]

I had planned to go for a run this morning, kind of an exciting run but...a series of unfortunate events is dictating a different plan for me this morning. No worries, I am ok, just a bit disappointed, possibly out close to 40 bucks, annoyed and dreading heading to the front desk of my hotel to deal with it. The silver lining through is coffee on my lanai, nicest morning in a couple days and first morning in a couple days that I can do it. I'll hopefully run later today elsewhere and it does allow me some time for an update!

When I left you, I had survived the red eye, dumped my stuff at OKW, changed and headed into the park. At this point it had admittedly been a long day/night and I was STARVING!.

I am not terribly fun when I get that hungry.

Hangry as they say.

Luckily, our meeting spot involved food! After the requisite arrival photopass shot I quickly made my way to the Refreshment Port (or whatever it's called...now in my mind it's the Cronut kiosk lol).

My peeps were not only there, they had already procured a cronut for me. In my excitement...well, I took pictures of the food first!

Yeah, I took a bite first.

I seriously INHALED that baby. Sooooo good!

And then probably provided proper hellos and hugs. LOL! Once I wiped all the sugar off of my fingers and face that is.

As some of you know, I don't really handle sugar all that well. At this moment all I had in me was sugar and caffeine. I needed some protein to soak it up.

Now I think we went to France and I had the duck. Which based on this years description (and it doesn't say "new") is this:

Confit de Canard, Pommes de Terre Sarladaise – Pulled Duck Confit with Garlic and Parsley Potatoes

hmmn. That sure looks like duck confit but it also looks like it is covered in cheese! Who knows. I probably have my little kiosk book at home with reciepts so I will double check.

What I do know is that it was good and fit the bill.

Feeling MUCH better it was time to document the meet!

Seeing these topiaries, and seeing them start to go up as we were leaving the PHM trip makes me REALLY want to be there right now! It was kind of torture to see the kiosks...closed...taunting me on our last day a few weeks ago.

now I have to admit, I am kind of bummed. I used to be able to go back into MDE and see my past FP+ bookings to remind myself what the heck I did on any given day, or at least what I attempted to do. It would appear that is no longer the case! I am historically terrible about taking pictures the first day which really doesn't help matters at all!

I think (and am sure between Pat, Marv, Mary Ellen, Rosie and Carol who will correct me and have better memories and take more pictures) we had FP+ for 3 rides that day. Spaceship Earth, the Land and then Soarin'. I think....that the SE and the Land were matched up with Marv and Pat but Rosie was just on the Land? Or maybe Rosie didn't ride with us (that is where I get fuzzy). Both Rosie/Carol and Marv/Pat were headed out so this was the only time we could meet and there wasn't a huge amount of time.

At any rate we DID find Rosie and Carol.

And documented it.

I do recall riding SE and the Land. Especially the Land as I'd never been before lol! Soarin'? Maybe. If so it was just Mary Ellen and I. I think I will stop here though as I bet the others have way more to fill in before I get to the rest of our day/evening but that is where my pictures pick up.

Sorry for the short update!!!!

 

[KatMark]

Oh my, I could go for a Cronut right now...so yummy. So now what my hips need...but I don't care.

Great pictures of you, Mary Ellen, Marv, Pat (and then Rosie and Carol joining you later).

You had never been on The Land? I can't believe it.

I hope you straighten things out with the $40.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Confit de Canard, Pommes de Terre Sarladaise – Pulled Duck Confit with Garlic and Parsley Potatoes

hmmn. That sure looks like duck confit but it also looks like it is covered in cheese! Who knows.

It does look like cheese but I'm guessing that it is the parsley potatoes because there are little flecks of green things there.

Seeing these topiaries, and seeing them start to go up as we were leaving the PHM trip makes me REALLY want to be there right now! It was kind of torture to see the kiosks...closed...taunting me on our last day a few weeks ago.

We were there on Feb 27th and saw some of the topiaries boxed up. We'll be back in April to check it all out.

I used to be able to go back into MDE and see my past FP+ bookings to remind myself what the heck I did on any given day, or at least what I attempted to do. It would appear that is no longer the case!

I remember when the old trip stuff would remain in MDE for quite awhile. It was nice to have that record. Now I take a screenshot of the fp's on my cell phone. It gives me the dual benefit of being able to look at the list without opening the app and having a record of what we did. I use the notes feature on MDE, too, so that the times for fireworks, etc are listed, too. You're so organized that you probably already do that.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Hope you sorted out the $40.

That cronut looks delicious. It is a pretty interesting mix of pastries, isn't it?
What great DisMeet photos. You all look like you're having a great time.
It's easy to not have done every single attraction at WDW. There's just so much to see. Glad you ticked The Land off that list.