ABCs of Trip Reporting, Pt. 2-Life Can Be Crappy and Then You Move On (3/7)

[GreatBiscuit]

Buenos tardes mi amiga!

Slowly catching up. (Story of my life it seems.)

Sorry to hear things are wonkified right now, but your faith and your attitude will see you through it.

Enjoying the DLR digressions.

Take care!

 

[jedijill]

Liesa,

sorry for an OT post but was hoping you wonderful people could offer prayers to my cousin's family as they prepare to bury their beautiful 9 month old son on Friday. Austin lost his fight with Alper's syndrome this weekend. This is their only child together.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/austinwink

Thanks.

Jill in Co

 

[All7OfUs]

Buenos tardes mi amiga!

Slowly catching up. (Story of my life it seems.)

Sorry to hear things are wonkified right now, but your faith and your attitude will see you through it.

Enjoying the DLR digressions.

Take care!

Bek and I were just talking about you last night, GB. She described you as "quietly faithful". I thought it was a perfect sum up of your always being here, with faithful, and understated comments. Thanks for coming back over and over, even in my lack of consistency these days.

I really don't know HOW folks without the solid ROCK can stand. It's tough enough even with that foundation.

Liesa,

sorry for an OT post but was hoping you wonderful people could offer prayers to my cousin's family as they prepare to bury their beautiful 9 month old son on Friday. Austin lost his fight with Alper's syndrome this weekend. This is their only child together.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/austinwink

Thanks.

Jill in Co

Oh Jill! That's awful!! I can't imagine any harder thing to go through on this side of heaven! Of course we can be liftin up Austin's family as they go through a piece of Hell on earth. Thanks for sharing, Jill.

 

[glennbo123]

DISMeets ARE super fun. But I think they are most successful if you know the people pretty well before. The first one I had was a bit awkward, and it was hard to make conversation having had really little "background" and common forum experience to draw from.

So I would say our DISmeet in D.C. wasn't your first then. "Hard to make conversation" doesn't describe that gang we had lunch with.

The one-year anniversary is quickly approaching....road trip to D.C.?

 

[All7OfUs]

So I would say our DISmeet in D.C. wasn't your first then. "Hard to make conversation" doesn't describe that gang we had lunch with.

The one-year anniversary is quickly approaching....road trip to D.C.?

No, it was with a few people in the Nashville area, as well as with Mary. The Mary part obviously went splendidly (I mean we DID still go to WDW together), and the others don't post here. It ended up being just a quick fly-by for a picture, and "Hi, how are you?".

NO, I'd say we were quite the chatty bunch, full of all kinds of great stuff to talk about. And some of us (NOT me) even saying too much.... I won't mention names.

I really wish I could road trip to DC this year. I have my sister there as an excuse to get there even. But until school is over, I'm strapped for cash and time.

 

[glennbo123]

NO, I'd say we were quite the chatty bunch, full of all kinds of great stuff to talk about. And some of us (NOT me) even saying too much.... I won't mention names.

You don't have to! She's a sweetheart though!

I really wish I could road trip to DC this year. I have my sister there as an excuse to get there even. But until school is over, I'm strapped for cash and time.

Believe me, I know the feeling. I know you were referring to your schooling, but we're getting hit with so many nickel-and-dime things as the public schools are solving budget problems by transferring costs to parents. Just having two kids in band is more than a couple of months of car payments.

 

[jenbear123]

The one-year anniversary is quickly approaching....road trip to D.C.?

I really wish I could road trip to DC this year. I have my sister there as an excuse to get there even. But until school is over, I'm strapped for cash and time.

My ears are burning....

 

[Flossbolna]

No, it was with a few people in the Nashville area, as well as with Mary. The Mary part obviously went splendidly (I mean we DID still go to WDW together), and the others don't post here. It ended up being just a quick fly-by for a picture, and "Hi, how are you?".

NO, I'd say we were quite the chatty bunch, full of all kinds of great stuff to talk about. And some of us (NOT me) even saying too much.... I won't mention names.

I really wish I could road trip to DC this year. I have my sister there as an excuse to get there even. But until school is over, I'm strapped for cash and time.

At first I thought you meant me with regard to your first DISmeet... But then I remembered the one in Nashville...

I was a bit surprised, because your description did not fit our meet at all!!!!

Sorry to hear that long trips aren't in your near future. You know that you have to come back to Germany one day and do it properly. There is so much too see.

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

i love cheese, but not sure i could handle those cheeses...does that make me a cheese wimp?

 

[MAGICFOR2]

yeah, they are; that's why we only get to see my folks there about once every 2 years. Things will be rather tight for us for sure, until I get my degree, and I can get to work. From Kentucky, we would most likely drive the 13 hours into Orlando rather than pay the $200 per ticket from there. When you have or 7 tx to buy, things sure add add up quickly.




It's been a stressful week for sure! The confrontation thing is not going to go away any time soon, which makes me sad, and as far as the family drama over dividing up "stuff"- well, at least they all settled on what everyone agrees is a fair method. That was half the battle.




Not bad, not bad.



That is strange that they wouldn't sell it! Yes, bleu and cranberries pair REALLy well! Love that combo!



No, definitely not like a glossy brochure. I think you 'd need a really fancy lens to make magic like that- ...... or an airbrush.




I"m sure every server has dozens of hilarious (and some not so much) stories of goofy things guests do.
That'd be a funny book to read someday!



She claims it to be. Yeah, I actually think she did eat it now. somewhere I think there's a picture of her empty plate. Maybe she can dig it up??





I think giving it a fair second chance would be nice. I hope at least they can point you in the right direction for your food intolerances and have some nice offerings to draw a good opinion from you.

CG is definitely NOT the place to watch the fireworks from for the first time. I think is should be declared Newbie Rule #32!



Things will smooth out; they always do. At least I know that I've done what I felt I needed to do- now, how this person receives it is up to them.

OH, duh - you would of course fly to see your family and then the drive wouldn't be as far as from ...let's see...Salem?

No, I wasn't comparing your photos to professionals - I thought they were great - I just mean in the ads they make it look like you are right up next to them - HUGE and you are really quite far away!

That would be a great book - maybe I'll have to do some "research."

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Liesa,

sorry for an OT post but was hoping you wonderful people could offer prayers to my cousin's family as they prepare to bury their beautiful 9 month old son on Friday. Austin lost his fight with Alper's syndrome this weekend. This is their only child together.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/austinwink

Thanks.

Jill in Co

Jill, I am so sorry to hear about little Austin. I will be praying for the family and check in on CB.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

i love cheese, but not sure i could handle those cheeses...does that make me a cheese wimp?

Maybe a Cheese Nip!

 

[ladylyons]

We love'd CG when we went for our anniversary in May 09. My parent's were with us watched the kids for us so we could have a nice night out. I'm ashamed to say that was the only time I was able to fully see Wishes on that whole trip. We tried to make it back and watch them from Main Street but unfortunatly it didn't happen. We did watch it from right outside the gates when we were trying to make it back into the park though one night!! lol I really need a do over trip!!!

 

[englishrose47]

Liesa,

sorry for an OT post but was hoping you wonderful people could offer prayers to my cousin's family as they prepare to bury their beautiful 9 month old son on Friday. Austin lost his fight with Alper's syndrome this weekend. This is their only child together.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/austinwink

Thanks.

Jill in Co

So Sorry , I confess I do not know anything about Alper's syndrome , but i can certainly feel their pain !!My prayers are with them !!!

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

Maybe a Cheese Nip!

nicely played.

 

[All7OfUs]

After our spooky spin, I suggested we go on the train- ALL the way around. My mom and aunt squealed like little girls and exclaimed that they, neither of them, had been on it for over 20 years. “Well! What better time than now”, I said. I wheeled Aunt Cherrie up the ramp, and we were asked if she’d be staying in the chair or transferring. The easiest option was just staying put in the chair, so we were directed to the back of the train, onto which is attached a car that is half devoid of seats. (Behind that was the Pullman coach that other able-bodied passengers could ride in if they wanted.) There we waited on the loading ramp until all the other passengers were loaded and the conductor made an announcement that they going to take the shortest train ride EVER. It was cute. Here’s why: The engineer had pulled the train up to just shy of the wheelchair loading ramp and needed to edge the train up about 4 inches so the loading ramp could be let down. Where it was, a metal barrier was in the way of it lowering. Yep, you heard me, about 4 inches. So with the greatest of train driving skill, the engineer babied that massive hulk of steel with the care of a mother for its newborn, and right on target, it stopped exactly where it needed to be for the ramp to come down for us to load. On we went into our own car, all the while my mom and aunt were wondering if all the “freaky” dinosaurs were still there. While they gushed on, I took a couple of photos from our vantage point:

Chug, Chug, Chug… Toot, Toot!!! It was fabulous- everything about it. Seriously, this is a massively overlooked attraction, and both Mom and Cherrie were almost in tears, overwhelmed with memories. They gushed about being together, the 3 of them (remember Cousin Dorothy comes tomorrow) riding around thinking they were “so cool” (yes, they really admitted that) in their Bermuda beach shorts and cat eye glasses. I’m telling you, these chicks were hot stuff, and strutted about Disneyland like they owned it- they admitted that too about the time they passed the Speedway, where they were literally howling with laughter recalling how they’d race each other around that track hoping to attract the boys’ attention in their teeny bopper sweaters and pony tails. It was hilarious watching them take a trip down memory lane, and I couldn’t help but get the warm fuzzies seeing how much they were enjoying themselves.

Not long into our circuit, they waxed on and on over the dinosaurs that are indeed still there. If I had more than a POC camera, I might have been able to get a couple of decent shots in the dark on a speeding train for you. Speeding, of course, is a relative term, but don’t say that the next time you get pulled over.

All too soon, we were back in NOS, and it was time to get off. Same drill; the engineer had parked his rig precisely 4 inches too shy of his mark, and we had to wait for all the other passengers to get off so the engineer could move the train so the conductor could roll down our ramp. It’s a good thing we were in absolutely no hurry; in fact, that’s a very liberating way to do Disney, I’ve learned. Commando has its place, but some trips deserve the attention to detail only slowing down can afford; and some trips deserve attention to relationship building, which only taking a bit of extra time can render.

Once off, I informed my little group that there was one thing we hadn’t done yet that was on my bucket list: tasting one of these…

And you can’t have one of these without just a few of these:

So we sat in the shade munching on fresh beignets and sipping a cool mint julep (without the kick, which is entirely too bad because let’s be real, what’s a julep without the bourbon?) while listening to some schnazzy jazz just behind us on the stage. It was the sweetest of moments and I wanted to capture that moment, as well as just immerse myself in knowing how precious it was.

Thoroughly refreshed it was time to hit the bathroom. And since it was so convenient and lovely, we chose the one we’d already patronized just a bit earlier. I love that bathroom! Next we decided to meander over to Fantasyland to see what fun we could conjure up there. Upon approaching the castle, it struck me how miniscule it really is compared to Cindy’s pad over in Orlando.

Aurora clearly got the short end of the stick concerning real estate. Maybe she needs to take that up with the fairies sometime- just sayin’. But hey, location, location, location!! And check out some of the details. I need to get on that with my own fairy, I think. My interior decoration skills stink, and well, let’s not even get started on the lack of magic wands waving down wads of cash.

My photographic record shows that next we attempted Peter Pan, and were successful. It did require a transfer, and it went well again. It was so nice having the “transfer world” opened up to us! Cherrie informed us that “London” was her favorite part, while I have to say, that the mermaid lagoon is mine. Every time I rode PP as a 7-13 year old, I was immediately whisked away into a fantastical notion that I was one of those long-haired beauties who could breathe underwater and get away with wearing clam shells around in public and be normal. Dads, please talk to your girls after this ride and help them understand this is not ok anywhere off this ride! Tell them also, that it is not okay to take drugs, or they might see whacked out hallucinations that could look like this:

We did not want to ride the teacups, as Cherrie can’t hold herself upright anymore, but I did get a couple of nice photos of the cheery lanterns as we passed:

And I just gotta say, that cute little music track they play at the teacups in Anaheim is just the catchiest, neatest little tune I ever did hear! It hasn’t changed in all the years I’ve been going and I still absolutely adore it to this day!
And while we all longed to ride the Storybook Boats, there was ZERO way we could get her down into the boat. Perhaps another day I could disappear down Monstro’s gullet to the land of wee chalets.

And now, as I bid you a fond farewell until next time, I hope that all your dreams

Have a Magical Day!!

 

[jedijill]

Another fantastic update! I love the memories of the "girls" in their younger years!

Jill in CO

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

great update, we enjoy taking the slow down trips as well, our next one will be like that with a new little one, which is nice to do.

and the memory lanestories were great. thanks.

 

[glennbo123]

What a great afternoon! I loved the description of you imagining your mom and Cherrie in their younger days in bermuda shorts, cat eye glasses, teeny bopper sweaters, and pony tails. Just think, without this trip those memories would not have been conjured up.

 

[KatMark]

Liesa, another great update. The detail is terrific and I'm so glad you were able to enjoy the memories on the train ride.

I love the picture of the three of you -- it's a keeper!