When I last left off we had done the
MNSSHP including a dinner at the CP, a disappointing lack of chocolate in our treat bags, a long lineup for a photo of Cinderellas coach and a solo end of the evening for me.
The next morning, I had my magic express envelope.
The melancholy of its arrival didnt hit me as hard as it has other trips. I knew there was a possibility of an upcoming trip for the dance competition (assuming I could talk DH into it) and we have been planning a grand gathering with my brother and his in-laws for 2012. Im like a junkie; I need to know when my next fix will be.
It was a morning to pack up and reminisce about our trip. Magic Express was picking us up at 8:45 am. So we really only had time to pop over to Pepper Market for breakfast and hit the road. However, I did take the time to photograph all my purchases. Dh thought I was crazy but then having been introduced to all of you on the disboards, I know Im not alone in my craziness.
Here are my soaps and bath fizzies from Basin. I know I posted them earlier but it just fits to put them back in here again.
And here is my Kingdom Keepers book II, my Cinderella Coach for my vehicle (which is still alive and well) and my photo album (which is now full of pictures from the trip).
Here is the free dinning bounce back offer that I didnt make use of.
Here are treat bags (minus a few candies). We did find some chocolate but not much. Maybe 8 or so pieces. I took these pictures later when I got home.
Here are the cereals that we bought for the kids that we cant get in Canada.
Here are a few other treats for the kids that once again we cant get in Canada.
Last but not least, here are the mandatory rice krispie Mickey heads that the kids insisted we pick up for them.
Id like to say that our trip home was uneventful. Magic Express was not so magical. We were out at the bus stop with 10 minutes to spare. Our flight left at 11:30 and our bus pickup time was 8:45. So not quite three hours. However, Ive always had plenty of time in the airport so I wasnt worried.
Let me tell you that bus stop was packed with people. The 8:30 bus hadnt shown up yet. In fact, the 8:30 bus didnt show up until 9:05. Of course it was packed and not all the 8:30 people could get on it. The 8:45 bus finally showed up at 9:15.
Remember before the parade when I let the family with the strollers take over my front row spots? Well, I let a family with two small children load before Dh and I. Im not sure why. It was a reflex I guess.
Or maybe its because Im too Canadian. I foolishly figured there would be seats for everyone. Well, not so. No seats for you exclaimed the magic express driver and off they went.
By this time its like 9:30. Im angry and panicky. Of course Im still angry and panicky in my nice Canadian way. So I dont know if it was noticeable to anyone but me.
Dh talked to the ME CMs. He explained that we now had 2 hours before our flight left. Other people around us were late too but not as late as Dh and I. Apparently some people scheduled to leave later than Dh and I had snuck past us to load on the other buses.
The ME CM said they were calling in an extra bus and it should be here soon. A regular Mears bus arrived at 9:50. Dh and I were the first ones on it.
Whew. I thought. But then, we didnt go anywhere for like 15 minutes. I dont know why not. A regular ME bus showed up and took off in the time we waited on board. All the while Im doing the math in my head. If its 25 minutes to get to the airport and 30 minutes to get past security are we going to make it?
Well, we did make it but just barely. Our plane was loading when we found our terminal. Normally we have time to buy an incredibly overpriced snack at the terminal but not today. Today we just made it in.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot about my altercation at security.
No, it wasnt with a security officer. It was in fact with a senior citizen. It wasnt one of my finest moments. Remember that I was stressed about making my plane and had put up with many delays already.
So Ive passed the present your passport and boarding pass part. Ive waited many minutes in the huge lineup to go through the x-ray machines. Then they open up another aisle. I grab Dh and run for it. We are just about to grab those trays to put your things in when a retired couple comes towards us. The man asks if he can go in front of us. Hes in a hurry.
Were in a hurry too. I say and continue to put my things in my tray.
Please, our plane leaves in less than an hour and Im worried we wont make it. My wife doesnt walk as well as she used to.
Im thinking they both walked over here pretty quick and whats the big deal about going behind me and Dh. We dont have much luggage. Are these guys any more important than I am?
I had HAD it up to here (if you could see me you would know that Im making gestures at the top of my head) with people pushing me around and thinking that just because Dh and I seem like a nice rule abiding middle class middle aged traveling with no children couple that we can be pushed aside.
Well we have 20 minutes to catch our flight. Its already boarding.
With 20 minutes at your age, youre sure to make it
I was about to blow my top. Who did this man think he was? He was dripping in Gucci and obviously used to getting his way.
I really didnt want to give him his way.
We were holding up the line.
I could have been through by now. The man was not saving anytime by having this conversation with me.
Luckily a security guard overheard. The Guard suggested the man and his wife go to another aisle nearby. The one that was set aside for people who needed extra help.
So I was saved from myself. I should have just let the man and his wife through. I try to live with the idea of what goes around comes around and that if I put out a pleasant attitude that good things will come my way.
But sometimes
. Sometimes I feel like a pushover and I can only take so much. I had already let that other family stand in front of me for the parade and I had let the other family go in front of me at the magic express bus and look where it got me. Through airport security with 20 minutes to spare and a crappy view of the parade.
Luckily our gate was close. Even luckier, a starbucks beside it had NO LINEUP. Normally Dh gives me the evil eye when I according to him waste money at starbucks but I needed every bit of that mocha coffee goodness that morning. I even let them put whip cream on it.
On the plane, I felt myself start to relax. Then I decided to broach the subject of our next Disney trip with Dh. I came clean and told him about the dance studio entering the Dance America competition at the Coronado next July.
He said
.
Well just see about that.
But of course if youve been following along, you know that he finally agreed to it. He decided NOT to join us. Instead I took my mother and Dh stayed home with our youngest.
Click here to join in on the fun of my next trip report.
A Gem of a Disney Dance Competition Click here
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2515666
See you there!
Who wants that?
I'm dancing. Mostly I'm running around like a chicken with it's head cut off. School isn't done yet and we've got piano and ballet recitals this weekend plus Jedi (DS7) has an away basebase game. 
I had the same separation anxiety earlier this week... 
