4/29/06 Eastern Magic...We're Going!!!!!

[PhillyJen2006]

I could have sworn that I posted like 3 times today!! Well, Dirk, I guess it got lost in the internet ectoplasm....If I asked my second grader who seems to know everything....would ectoplasm be a real thing? I forgot. Since I became a SAHM, I seem to forget lots lately!!!

Anyway, my comments were.....CG- I know how those jaunts can take on proportions unknown to mankind. We thought we would take the kids to Disney in June, just a quick jaunt from my MIL's house in Satellite Beach. We just wanted to get out of the house for the day or 4...... I swear, once you get that Disney ball rolling, and you just keep telling yourselves that the kids are only young once.....it is all over!

My second comment, I can't remember.....Sorry! My biggest loser diet has gone on long enough-3 days....so I decided to treat myself to a glass or 3 of wine-Toasted Head Russian River Valley!

PartyPAt-I didn't read the label close enough, does Russian River Valley generally describe your location? I LOVE it! In fact, Toasted Head Chardonnay has been my favorite for years. If you don't like oak, you don't like this- it hits you in the forehead with a ton of oak bricks, however, this Russian River Valley is apparently it's premier brand, very smooth and creamy~ PA(pennsylvania) has state owned wine stores, and apparently they have quite the buying power so we get what they call "chairmans selections" every once in awhile, that they get a an amazing discount..... Katie wanted the cheerleader head icon!!! Anyway, it is supposed to be like $30.00 and when they have it, it is more like $11.99 a bottle! Gotta love that! Since I have become a wine snob(12 years ago in college), I swore off anything that said "Gallo". I just had "Gallo of Sonoma" Chardonnay that was fabulous! I can't wait to have another bottle!

Michelle, your family is beautiful! Happy to finally see the photos! If you read back in the posts a few weeks you will see that I just cut my hair off and your hair is almost exactly how I cut it! I love it!

Anyway- I guess it is time to call out TOM! Where the HELL are you???? Even HGP has been kind of participating-he lent his body to a photo a few pages back... but you ....you have been absent! What, you leave it to youis SAH wife to handle EVERYTHING???? Like she doesn't do enough with the cooking, cleaning, carpooling....blah blah blah....the Regis and Kelly Monologue....she has a very busy life.....Not that I am not THRILLED to finally hear from her! You know I don't like the phone so if you are mad at me that I don't return phone calls, I apologize....

Dirk, I am sorry to say that I spent much of my New Years Day reading your trip reports! I LOVED them and I couldn't tear myself away! You should be a writer! Perhaps, sadly, I was clinging to every word. I have a friend just like you who writes things, not meaning to be witty or anything, but I just love when she sends emails out. She just recently went to China to adopt her 3rd chinese daughter and the emails she send back were gripping! I know she didn't mean them to be, merely informational but I loved her style of humor mixed with emotion.

Ok- I might be up for the heidi post of the year award.....She used to post PAGES at a time! Must be my wine talking....

I am getting really excited about the cruise.. I am too lazy to figure out what our cabin number is but I think it is midship 6th floor verandah. I will post the exact number soon. I started to write about my friend Mermaid Patty who is cruising with us. I am usually a Uber Anal planner, but when Patty is around(she is my cruise agent and best friend) I don't have to worry about a thing! She is the best, no stone is left unturned. In fact, last year, she had our cabin stocked chock full with gifts for the girls and us(Champaign) when we boarded!

Ok-enough out of me! I can't wait!!!
PJ

 

[PhillyJen2006]

Ok- my curiosity got the best of me... we are in 6614 aft. I have now idea which side of the ship don't really care. Mermaid Patty wanted the side that docks in Castaway Cay and we didn't get that so maybe that will answer the question! Mermaid and Mike and fam are in 6616(adjoining) with us. Too bad the verandah's don't adjoin like on RCCL. But then again-they aren't the Disney Cruise!

Can't wait!
PJ

 

[mketting]

CG- All of us tan but my son especially, he looks Hispanic by the end of the Summer. Kirk, my husband, calls him "white bread" sometimes but in the Summer we change it to "Wheat bread"

Jen- I cut my hair off when I turned 30, (35 now.) It is so dark right now though, I go darker in the winter but its too dark now.

 

[suziemva]

Ok- my curiosity got the best of me... we are in 6614 aft

Hey, you're right near us too! Although, you're probably saying to yourself, "OMG! Too near that rambling Suzie and family!" Sorry!

I can only think that we all booked through MouseEars????? Maybe that's how we are all together? Strange.....but at least I know that I'm near the party!

 

[PhillyJen2006]

Suzie! Funny that you mention that you are near the party.....we were SOOO lame most of the week. We had our fun during the day and at dinner and we were all whooped by 10pm. I swear we got the best sleep ever on the cruise, except for that last fateful night....

Guess what gang....HGP is currently in the process of getting his username set up. But you know it won't be live without the perfect signature and avatar! We started at the beginning reading the posts from over a year ago- Tom calling him out..... I guess he FINALLY got it!

I am settling in to watch the food network-or what I DVR'd of it today. Have a great night everyone..... And Susie! I am thrilled to be near you guys!

PJ

 

[castlegazer]

No, I booked through my best DIS pal antkim - Kingdom Magic Travel. Hope the mods aren't nearby...... Their getting wicked strict about mentioning another travel agent.

You all are soo funny - I sit here with my "Two Buck Chuck" wine and am keeping right up with all you other winos, well, I guess that would just be Jen and Pat. Two Buck Chuck is Charles Shaw wine from Trader Joes - its very, very good and costs a little over $4. Yup! Gotta tell ya, though - its made by some big vineyard in Napa for them to relabel. I'll find out more info later for you all. Maybe I'll bring a bottle or two.

Suzie, its not you - its me - when I booked airfare I had to fly in a day earlier so I just talked to my Tagliarchy friend who is renting me their points for the villas and moved the date of my WDW visit up a day. But I was always planning to spend Friday on the beach as a relax day prior to getting on board. I hate the feeling of getting on a cruise all hepped up and hyper from either travel or too much packed in prior to a cruise. We have done it every time and I want this time to be different.

OK - Julie, the crab shack is called Crab Heaven and they used to be on A1A but had a fire and moved into Merritt Island and I don't know how to get there now - I am currently trying to call my sister to get directions. I like their crabs because they do it Maryland style. My sister is a fan of a shack under one of the bridges on 528 that boils in garlic. I went there last time with her and totally missed the Maryland boil. Crab Heaven's old location was great because it was on old gas station and they had a great open air deck in walking distance of our condo. Hush puppies and pitchers of beer were the order of the day along with the all you can eat crab - last time we went, my son fell asleep in his stroller leaving us waaaaay tooo much crab and beer time. We almost didn't make it home.

I knew you would be at Ron Jons - its not too far from our condo. We stay right at the pier - its the second condo complex on the left if you were facing the pier from the water.

 

[castlegazer]

Woohooo let's hear it for us 35 year olds!!!!!!!!

Jen - yup - that's me on a cruise too. I am glad that I won't have the guilt factor built in on a Disney cruise. When you cruise Princess its like you're a leper or something if you aren't out late. I never can make it out past 11pm on a cruise - its from the pina coladas, sun, food, fun. No way, no how am I up late.

 

[PhillyJen2006]

CG- I am so jealous- we can't get wine at Trader Joes! PA is such a puritanistic state!

Gotta Run
PJ

 

[carolina_yankee]

I could have sworn that I posted like 3 times today!! Well, Dirk, I guess it got lost in the internet ectoplasm....If I asked my second grader who seems to know everything....would ectoplasm be a real thing? I forgot. Since I became a SAHM, I seem to forget lots lately!!!

I keep thinking of Ghostbusters when I think of Ectoplasm, but it seems as good a place as any for posts to disappear to. And, Ghostbusters would say it's a real thing. Websters says this "1 : the outer relatively rigid granule-free layer of the cytoplasm usually held to be a gel reversibly convertible to a sol
2 : a substance held to produce spirit materialization and telekinesis"

I feel no more smarter.

Dirk, I am sorry to say that I spent much of my New Years Day reading your trip reports! I LOVED them and I couldn't tear myself away! You should be a writer! Perhaps, sadly, I was clinging to every word. I have a friend just like you who writes things, not meaning to be witty or anything, but I just love when she sends emails out. She just recently went to China to adopt her 3rd chinese daughter and the emails she send back were gripping! I know she didn't mean them to be, merely informational but I loved her style of humor mixed with emotion.

Thanks for the feedback. I'm trying to get more serious (rather, more intentional) about getting them done. It's a great way to relive the memories.

We have friends who adopted two girls from China. There two trips weren't unusually eventful, but their stories of the process are really amazing. And both girls are really a handful, but in a good way!

So, in 63 hours, we're off to a 5 day escape to the World to train for the real thing 4/29 and beyond. Boy am I ready. It's the only way to get away from people up here!! (No day off since Christmas).

D

 

[Belle and Rella's Dad]

I have been called out, I haven't been in my office all week and that is when I usually post, so here I am at home watching my Spartans lose and have decided to post. I just talked to Philly Jen tonight (yes she actually took my call from Michigan, I don't want to offend anyone, but Jen you are the hottest chick I have ever met from PA), and she did let me in on a little secret? Everyone get ready for the apprearance of

HEADGEAR PAT

BTW a big welcome to everyone new, and thank you Suzie for the reference to the princess breakfast (we have been 14 times and only not gone twice). Party Pat, if you want us to keep an eye on your nephew we can be bribed with wine. CG, the girls love crab, but I have to tell you they love alaskan king so what is the difference between Maryland?

Tom

 

[HeadGearPat2006]

All, lets take minute to remember a true icon in Patrick Cranshaw, a veteran character who racked up five decades' worth of credits but none more indelible than his turn as elderly frat boy Joseph "Blue" Palasky in the 2003 comedy hit Old School, has died. He was 86. God rest his soul...you're in my heart Blue.

Is any "Old School Key Lime Martini" freaks out there?

Well, let see review some of my thoughts for 2006 in preparation for yet another action packed, fun filled Disney Cruise. Here whats been going through my mind:

1. I think it's Mermaid Patty's time to show her yabows to a passing ship this time. (PhillyJen 1, other cruisers 0)
2. Key Lime Martini - Yes, there will be many of these and today, I'm a little afraid.
3. Drunk dials are now room to room calls. Nice and free.
4. I can't wait to see Tom sprint down the beach at Castaway Cay in hopes of getting that one lonely Hammock. Last time, he looked like an Olympic hopeful at one point. Michigan represent.

Anyway, sorry for the delay in postings as I have been a little busy. (yes, it's been 8 months or so but I was at the same Darth Vader convention as BowTie Joe so cut me some slack.)

Until next time,
HeadGear Pat is out....but I'm back.

 

[PhillyJen2006]

And there he is....ladies and gentlemen!!! The one the only, Headgear Pat! And judging from the time he posted he was seriously late for work this morning! And since you are a whole state away from me, posting to each other is completely legitimate! I think that is how the trans-state internet posting rules work. I didn't know Blue died! Come on....we CAN'T be the only people who have seen(and LOVE) Old School???

Biggest Loser mid week check in- down a few(HGP is really trying to keep me honest this time!) I guess tuesday is the day! I started weighing in on Monday of last week so I will post mine late monday.

Alright, big day at King of Prussia Mall ahead-hoping to rid myself of hundreds of dollars worth of Christmas rejects...

Have a great day everyone! I think this thread is going to start getting lively-I just have this feeling.....

PJ

 

[castlegazer]

I hear the call, the call of revealed yabows!!!!!!!!!

And in honor of "Blue":

That party that we had last night has given us a lot of street cred.......

Mitch: Who's this guy?
Beanie: Oh, that's Blue. An old navy vet who hangs around my store a lot. Don't worry. He's legit.
Mitch: He looks like he's one hundred years old and he wants to pledge?
Beanie: You kidding me? Old man river can't shut up about it.

 

[castlegazer]

Who you goonna call??? - Ghost Busters!!!!!!!

 

[castlegazer]

CG, the girls love crab, but I have to tell you they love alaskan king so what is the difference between Maryland?

Man, this ectoplasm crap is really driving me nuts - I lost a toally awesome post. OK - here goes trying to recreate the magic:

Blue Crabs - the mid sized one - the crabs you get down and dirty with - the hole in the table eatin' crabs - the... ( I can't remeber the rest of my diatribe about this). Not thos hoity toity Alaskan legs (but those are damn good too)! The difference is the boils - the red spicy one (Old Bay Maryland style) versus just using garlic (Florida). I am partial to Old Bay or Savannah Seasoning.

 

[suziemva]

MMMMM.....crabs! I love to just get a bushel and sit for hours eating them. Unfortunately, DH abhors crabs just for that reason. Such a bummer. So, instead, I have talked him in to an annual seafood boil the past 5 years. We get crawfish, shrimp (big 8-12 ones), lobster tails, kielbasa, corn on the cob, and redskin potatoes. Boil 'em up with some Old Bay (Is there really any other seasoning???!?!?!?!?!), drain 'em then dump 'em out on the newspaper tablecloth. YUMMY!!! We usually do this around The 4th or his birthday on the 6th. Some of the best times had....doesn't hurt that we usually do it at friends house. They have a really big front yard

(set up for volleyball and whatever you call hitting a golf ball into the net [Tori's favorite BTW])

and a wonderful pool out back with a hot tub.

Yes, we start around 2 pm and go to 2 am....usually with Pool Boy Mike bringing drinks around (his house, he's the "bartender").

Good times. Wish we could be there to eat crabs with you. Have one for me, would ya'?!

 

[castlegazer]

Me too! Sounds like I found a compatriate - You know, you have the BEST parties!!!!!! I want to have you be my official party planner!

 

[ohsodisney]

Hi everyone
Sorry I have been so absent . I went back 3 pages to catch up to everyone but just couldn't read all the posts .

I guess I was trying to figure out who is staying at Disney before the cruise ?
We are at the AKL 4 days prior .

Jen - I'm with you as far as the 10:00 bedtime LOL , we figured this was is a cruise for the kids so we will be tucked in early from running about with them all day . Don't get me wrong the Oceaneers Club will definelty have two little girls named Holly & Mckenna often I'm sure . We are going to try and get reservations at Palos but we can not do them until 90 prior :O( , so who knows if we will be lucky enough to get in . I would prefer to go on a formal night .This is our first Disney cruise so I am not exactly sure how everything works with the reservations .

Or cabin is 6016 so it looks as thou we will be on the other end of the ship then most of you :O

 

[carolina_yankee]

Alright, big day at King of Prussia Mall ahead-hoping to rid myself of hundreds of dollars worth of Christmas rejects...

Have a great day everyone! I think this thread is going to start getting lively-I just have this feeling.....

PJ

KoP is my second most favorite place after Disney. Our favorite routine is lunch at Bahama Breeze or dinner at Cheesecake Factory, movie at UA, then wander the malls and hit Costco on the way home. You'd think I could find something closer in the Trenton area . . .

 

[suziemva]

Our favorite routine is lunch at Bahama Breeze

OOOHHH!!! Love the paella there! OMG - big enough to feed a family of four though.....mmmmm....wish we had one closer to us