ACCK! We're leaving August 1 and I haven't done ANY planning yet!!

[newtowdw1]

So, as you can tell from the title, I hadn't planned at all.

Yeah, yeah I knew we were going to WDW.
Yeah, yeah I knew we'd bought our AP vouchers way back in July 2008.
Yeah, yeah I knew we were going August 2009.

But I just couldn't get worked up. I couldn't get on Dis and plan.
I couldn't get excited.

I can hear you all shrieking, "BLASPHEMY WOMAN!!"

"You haven't been in a year!"
"Not excited! not EXCITED??!!??
"You have APs (4, count 'em 4) burning a hole in your Sentry-Fireproof-Lockbox ... and the receipts in a 'safe place.' Get planning."



So what was my issue? Why wasn't I planning?

Why was DH buying me the UG in September 2008 when I didn't buy my own copy?



Why were the children asking me, "Where's the banana?" "What do you mean that's only on Disboards? Where on earth ARE you then?"



Hmmm. What is wrong with Mom?

 

[tink1957]

What's wrong with you girl? Are you sick? Did your cat die? I'm going in Sept & I've been planning since March. I hope you're ok & can't wait to hear what ails you.

 

[newtowdw1]

Pre-trip 8/2009

SO, since the Queen Diser wasn’t planning, what was she doing?


Working? No.

A fall at work in 1995 created severe back problems that developed into chronic pain. I have struggled and fought, but finally in March 2008, the pain won. I had to stop teaching high school, which I loved, and spent most of my time in bed.

Besides, work simply fed my Dis-mania. I’d planned Dis-trips for at least 1/3 of the district’s staff anyway. They were the ones enjoying my 2008 Unofficial Guide. So work wasn’t keeping me from Dising.


Planning Vacation Bible School at my church, or working for my church? No.

See above. People kept asking, “So, who are you taking to Disney this year?”
“What’s planning, Meg?”

Planning for a trip outside the world? GASP!! Not adultery AND blasphemy? NEVER!
We did go to North Myrtle Beach last August for 1 week, but I’d planned that, in true Diser fahion, the summer before.


What’s wrong with Megan? Why isn’t she obsessively-compulsively-ing about Disney? Why IS she obsessive-compulsy-ing about Sims?

Hmmmm. Seems like Narco-based pain meds were leaving me a bit... shall we say... out of the loop? And they weren’t really helping with the pain. And only one of my doctors was holding out any hope of relief.

So, while lying in bed in pain, I was playing Sims 2. Talk about OCD-inspiring. And it was pretty easy.

And besides, it’s hard to get excited about a trip to WDW that you’re afraid will not happen. You see, none of the pain treatments were working. I was getting worse and worse. When I first had to stop teaching I was able to play games with my kids and cook supper; by planning time I was stuck in bed 24/7. I could walk no more than 15 steps at a time. I could not string 2 coherent sentences together... many are thinking, “We noticed!”

I couldn’t go to Disney. Heck, sometimes I couldn’t even make it the 15 steps to the toilet without help.

 

[tink1957]

Sorry to hear about your back. I hurt my back a few years ago lifting a heavy box at work & it took forever to heal. None of the treatments worked for me either, only time heals back pain. I still can't lift over 10 lbs without feeling it the next day. Hope you feel better.

 

[newtowdw1]

Sorry to hear about your back. I hurt my back a few years ago lifting a heavy box at work & it took forever to heal. None of the treatments worked for me either, only time heals back pain. I still can't lift over 10 lbs without feeling it the next day. Hope you feel better.

Thank you. I'm moving along slowly. DS 8 has been home all week with double ear infections, strep, bronchitis, and a sinus infection. So at least I've had good company.

And be really careful about lifting. I can't do 3 pounds right now, but should be starting PT VERY soon.

Thanks for reading! One more installment tonight, then I have to log off.

 

[newtowdw1]

Part 3

Ok, enough drama....




OBVIOUSLY I’m going. You all are too sophisticated not to see the bouncing crazies in my sig.


AND the ‘Definitely going’ statement.



My wonderful doctor hooked me up with a wonderful doctor in Northern PA, and after a year of diagnostics, I was finally ‘fixed’ on Good Friday. Well, put on the road to recovery anyway. They knocked out the nerves sending useless pain signals to my brain, allowing me to mentally function again. YEAH!!!

Now all I had to do was regain the strength I’d lost lying around for a year. I’m waiting to start Physical Therapy next week (I hope and pray). Workers’ comp has to approve first.



Yeah, hard work. Which is why I’m writing this PreTR. I need to stay focused on an immediate goal. And what’s better than WDW as a goal?




So, for Easter, DH raided Barnes and Noble and bought me the (queue dramatic music) Official Guide to Walt Disney World



AND



the Unofficial Guide too!!! The kids like the pictures. Plus, I think he knew that I’d need some picture-inspiration too! It is also very sweet that DH bought me the last two UGs. He’s always teased me in the past that we don’t need EVERY year’s, do we? Since 2002? REALLY?

So for him to buy these showed me 1) He is pumped to see the mouse!! 2) He is worried about my lack of interest in my favorite compulsion 3) He loves me!


Next UP:
Answers to common Dis questions like: When is she going? Where is she staying? Any fun flashbacks for us?


AND :



Why does she say she has THREE kids in her sig, but only FOUR (count ‘em) APs in the Sentry-Fireproof-Lockbox? Maybe she can’t count anymore, after all her dru..... medications?

‘Cause her sig clearly indicates FIVE family members (4 Disney adults, thankyouverymuch) and she doesn’t have FIVE APs.



egads..... should we mention it? How do you tell a druggie.... ooops, heavily medicated person, that she can’t count.






Hope she didn’t teach math.

 

[Microcell]

Well, I am glad to see that everything is heading the right direction, and it is sad that you felt too bad to think Disney, but now you get to eat, breathe and sleep Disney to get ready!

Don't worry, you can get a little math wrong if you teach it, my DS's first grade teacher can't spell..

 

[newtowdw1]

Part 4

It’s time to introduce the cast of characters!!

Lady-- That’s me. 41 and broken.
Lady and the Tramp is my favorite movie for many reasons.

First, my family raised cocker spaniels for many many years. My sister and I spent our teenage years showing them, grooming them, and breeding them. At one time we had 7 cockers in show coat, and two golden retrievers that my dad and I field trial and obedience trained.

Second, my mother taught my sister and me how to be ladies. The ‘lady lessons’ were short and practical. Ladies stoop to pick things up; ladies do not chew gum in public; ladies NEVER belch. Acting like a lady was generally optional. But it made her feel better to know that we did KNOW better!
And finally, I was raised about as sheltered as Lady. Although my family certainly wasn’t perfect, I was (and still am) very naive. NOT a street kid. The street smarts I have were gathered through reading Cosmo and Glamour. Definitely a white-bread, spoiled, small town girl. I grew up and became what my parents forbid me to be:



A teacher!! I teach Biology. In the family pattern; both parents were English teachers, and many great-aunts, uncles and grandparents taught.


The Tramp-- That’s DH. 46. Loves Disney. Grew up rough, spending some time in the Miami projects. Ran away a few times and lived on the beaches in the Keys. Went to Magic Kingdom when it was Disney World. Discovered science and wrestling at the tender age of 13, and began to walk the straight and narrow. His family moved back North, where he became the local hero in football, wrestling and track. I still get dirty looks from his dozens of high school admirers. Dad died when he was 15. Went to a DI school, full-ride scholarship as an Unlimited wrestler. Blew out his knee, lost his scholarship, came home and took care of his mom, Oma, little brother and adopted sister, and the cows. Yeah, he lived on a farm too. Went to the local state school, where he set the record for hammer throwing. That record stood for over 20 years!

He is a BIG guy. He knows everyone. He’s kind, generous, soft-hearted, and pretty much perfect. He teaches too. Biology. We met at the high school where we both got our first jobs. We got married during the school year.

Annette-- 12 our first ‘puppy’ Her daddy’s little girl in all ways. Wicked smart and interested in rocks, weather, space... Yeah, all the things that I really don’t think are cool. She loves Space Camp. We’re watching her grow into her feet (size 11 woman). Already taller than me.

Girly-girly. Purple, pink, princesses. This year she decided that she was too old for princesses, and has switched to Tinkerbell. However, she told me NOT to change the princess in the signature until she was 13. THEN I could change ‘her’ to Tink.

She is the sweetest child. In Kindergarten would pray for the ‘bad boys’ in class that they would not get in trouble that day. Cried for the St. Jude’s kids, and to this day sends them money. Cut off all her hair for Locks of Love. Takes extra school supplies in case someone has forgotten theirs. Attracts little kids like velcro attracts dust. At Biergarten in Germany (when she was 8) she organized all the little ones into a circle dance. Two sets of parents came over to tell us how wonderful she was, making sure the little ones were having fun and were safe.

Of course, her brother was off in a corner somewhere, shunned by her as less than magical!



Scamp--8 our other puppy. Honestly, this one is more puppy-like than I care to admit. When an infant my mom and I found ourselves rubbing him behind his ears. When allowed to do his thing Scamp is the sweetest pup... child. Has an amazing temper of truly mythical status when his plans are interfered with.

Irish legends speak of warriors who would Warp Spasm. These heroes of old would turn themselves inside out before battle, channeling that rage. The mere sight of an inside-out warrior would frequently win the battle. When Scamp loses it, he Warp Spasms. Scares those easily intimidated.

Unfortunately, Scamp’s most frequent enemies are not easily frightened. Bedtime, bath-time, clothes, Mom, Dad, annoying sisters... all of these things must be given into. Sigh.

Scamp has a very serious side. Disapproves of silliness. For example, Annette and I love the song “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.” Makes our day when it comes on the radio in December. We race to the kitchen, turn up the music, and sing along at the top of our lungs.

Scamp has announced that song is ‘the stupidest song I’ve ever heard.’ Disapproves of the ‘How the heck can I wash my neck’ song, as well as the ‘John Jacob Jingleheimerschmidt’ song.

Did I mention that Music is the only non-A grade he has? Yeah. That Music teacher just can’t get with the program.

On the other hand, he loves to wear costumes, play outside, and school. He is the only member of the house who does not pray for a snow day. He’s still cuddly. Still devoted to his stuffed animals. Got a cocker spaniel puppy last year in March. Because his mom decided he needed a pet. And what’s the perfect pet? That’s right. A cocker spaniel!!

So, who’s the 17 year old?

Meet Trusty!!
Tramp has a habit of taking in strays. We’ve been teaching at our high school for so long that certain families of students are ‘ours.’ Teenagers are SO neglected in our society. We simply parent them.

We took 9 seniors to WDW in March 2007. One of those young men joined the Marines and ‘gave’ us his little brother to ‘raise.’ Actually asked us to take care of him. Because the older brother was leaving, the rent might not get paid every month. There might not be enough food. Or clothes. Or shoes. So, while Trusty does not actually live with us, he is part of the family. He eats dinner with us every night. Hangs out on weekends to watch TV, play Pokemon with Scamp. Teases his little sister into baking him cakes, brownies and cookies. Get this... he’d NEVER had a birthday cake until two years ago. when I made him one. Sleeps on the couch at least three or four times a month.

So, when planning a trip to WDW, we couldn’t leave Trusty behind. I think he can join us for a week at the world, and we’ll buy his ticket. We’ll be taking him next year too with the next group to participate in the YES programs.

He is so hard-working, so unselfish. Such a good boy.

Ok. Sorry this is SO long. But I love the people joining me in the Happiest Place on Earth so much that I wanted all of you to love them too!

 

[tink1957]

Lady & the Tramp is my favorite too!

Your DD & DS remind me of mine at that age, both 4 years apart & totally wonderful, but different.

It's so great that you've adopted Trusty, he's lucky to have you & I know he brings joy to your life. I have an adopted nephew, Jake & he went on our 1st trip to WDW with us. I wish he could come on our Sept trip, but he has school.

 

[newtowdw1]

Lady and the Tramp rocks! Fortunately, DH isn't offended by the comparison!

I'm glad you got to 'adopt' too. It adds so much joy to the family when you extend it. I'm sorry Jake can't go back. Don't you hate how school interferes with life? It's not so bad for us, as my whole life has revolved around the school year, but I understand other people's lives have different centers.


I'm so excited to add to my pre-TR, but DS 8 is lying on my typing arm, so I can't really do much. New update later!

Thanks for reading along!!

Up next:

Top 8 activities that MUST be done. Why 8, and not 10? Read along later and find out!

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

I had to come over and check out your PTR. Sorry to hear about all your back trouble. I can't imagine how difficult it'd be struggling with chronic pain like that. Happy to hear you were "fixed" and you're on your way to recovery! Good luck!!!

It makes me laugh that DD told you not to change her to Tink until she was 13. I love kids! Oh, and that picture of your DS with the dog...too cute!! I love Cocker Spaniels, they are adorable.

Can't wait to hear more!!

 

[newtowdw1]

We've been to WDW before. For weeks at a time. Most people would think, "Oh, so you only have 8 things you still need to do."

NOPE! Not us. There were so many must-do-never-tried-before activities that I've limited each person to 2.

I'll post pictures of past awesome activities later on, but for now:
On Good Friday, on the way to the back treatment that worked, Annette, Tramp and I brain-stormed about what we couldn't bare to miss on this trip.

"Where," you ask, "are Scamp and Trusty? Don't they get to choose?"

Of course, silly! Scamp stayed at Grandma and Grandpa's farm. Way more fun than going on a 2 hour round trip for mom's back. And Trusty... hmmm. I don't know what he was doing. Probably sleeping and playing PS3. At this point Trusty does not know he's going anyway.

Lady's top 2:

1. Cirque du Soleil

I've heard so much about this from my friends and family that I can't wait to try it. My sister went last June and raved. My sisters-in-law (2) went in July 2006 and raved. I need to see what I'm missing out on!!

AND right now, through the end of June Cirque tickets are 30% off for AP holders. This does not directly help me, but I keep refreshing the page, hoping hoping hoping....

Monorail around Epcot

ok, really lame I know. But it’s so cool looking. And I’ve wanted to do this since we first went in 2005. And it just never happened. I’d look longingly at the Monorail as we left Epcot, thinking “Next time.” Waving wistfully as it circled away from the platform. Sigh.

But THIS time the Monorail and I have a date. HAH!


Tramp’s top 2:
Eat 5 DoleWhips/day

Hmmm. Sounds like someone’s memories are too big for his tummy. But maybe not. He does usually share!

Visit the Boardwalk

he’d heard so much about it on the Disney Travel Channel series that he wants to see it for himself.


Annette’s top 2:

The Kitchen Sink Sundae at Beaches and Cream--

okay I admit it. This got my back up for some reason. I KNOW it’s reasonable for a 12 year old to want to try this. And cost-wise it’s not prohibitive if we eat it for lunch. But for some reason I snapped at her and said, “NO!” Obviously, this is now on the top of the list to do, since I was such a jerk about it. It just seems stupid and gloppy to me.

And I’m really conflicted about Annette’s weight. She is not overweight now, and she is growing... size 11 woman’s shoe, size 14 Juniors, 5’5” tall. But, gosh, she comes from a family of obese people and we (DH and I) are kind of concerned. We try hard to teach her how to eat right. And how you eat right is to have fun and not obsess over food .... kind of like 5 dole whips/day as opposed to one kitchen sink....

Yeah, we’re messed up. But we know it!!

DisneyQuest or Blizzard Beach/Typhoon Lagoon

We’ve decided on DQ. Our hotels will have pseudo-water parks, or at least water slides.



Scamp’s top 2

Go to Japan and get Pokemon cards--

easy peasy. Reminds me of Annette at 8, who was a Hello Kitty fan. I didn’t tell her that HK was in Japan, so she squealed in joy at the sale rack!

Build a Light Saber

Trusty’s top 2

Leave the state of New York..

further than 3 miles south into PA. I plan to get a AAA Trip-Tik so he can navigate.

Go to Disney Quest

I think Annette coerced him into this one. I’m not sure, I just get that feeling. He will love it though.


Next-- where are they staying?

 

[waughzee]

Howdy neighbor! I live about 20 miles north (rte 12) of Binghamton , on a farm! I'm looking forward to reading your report!