An APRIL Adventure in Autism: 2008 (8/8) Time to Say Good-Bye....

[maroo]

All I have to say is....

have you ever listened to the podcasts? The DISUnplugged?

They feel pretty strongly about staying out of the ____ lakes.

 

[KathyRN137]

I am hoping for an update today!! I have to know if you fell in that icky green water....

It is pretty icky, isn't it?? Update by tonight!

Hi Kathy,
I'm all caught up to the cliffhanger .... Hoping you rescued the hat.

OKW is lovely. You must've taken the water taxi on your recent SSR trip... wasn't it relaxing??

All I have to say is....

have you ever listened to the podcasts? The DISUnplugged?

They feel pretty strongly about staying out of the ____ lakes.

I haven't listened to the podcasts (yet) but its funny you should mention it because I just recently began listening to DIS Radio while DISing... it really adds another fun dimension to something I already love!


Kathy

 

[wvdislover]

Hi guys! Hope you don't mind Kathy, but I just had to come in and post about something that is totally OT, but I knew you would all appreciate and understand it. This morning at church, Sarah, my DD11 with Asperger's/HFA, who usually hates praise/worship time (often b/c it's "too loud"), got up at the end of the service and went up on stage with my DH (a worship leader) and was singing with the praise band. She then had the courage to go up and stand beside our lead vocalist and continue singing. I cried when I saw her on the stage singing, b/c it is something she would usually balk at doing during a service. It was really sweet, b/c she does have a pretty voice and I would love to see her follow in her daddy's footsteps one day Just prior to that happening, I had been thinking hard about finding out yesterday that my former college roommate has been battling cancer for the past year What a bright, encouraging way to end the morning. Isn't it amazing how God works!

 

[KathyRN137]

Hi guys! Hope you don't mind Kathy, but I just had to come in and post about something that is totally OT, but I knew you would all appreciate and understand it.

Of course I do! How amazing... what a truly special moment for Sarah, and for you!! Thanks for sharing it with us!!


Kathy

 

[KathyRN137]

Chapter 19: Just Another Addition to Davy Jones’ Locker!



Wednesday 4/23/08


Old Key West Resort


I just had to get that hat! My daughter was counting on me! My arms are long... if I could just hang on with one hand and stretch the other out a bit further...


Tricia was screaming, “MOM! GET IT!! GET IT!!”


Reach….

…Reach…

……REACH!!


Aaaaugghhhh!


Just as my fingertips grazed the hat, it filled with water and sank quickly into the murky depths!! One more addition to Davey Jones’ Locker! Tricia wailed... and I was crushed.


Now I know what it must feel like to drop the ball... to miss the bag...to strike out.
As Charlie Brown would often say... “RATS!!”



Eddie had just given her the NC State hat that past Christmas, and it was the only one she would wear. Ed comforted her and told her that he would have her brother get her another one, but she was still upset. Poor Tricia! First, the boat-driving experience hadn’t turned out to be as fun as she had expected, and now this. Oh well, we couldn’t sit here in the middle of the waterway all day. There was nothing we could do except push on toward Downtown Disney



The relatively narrow canal opened into a much wider expanse of water as we approached the West Side. Now we were able to have some fun circling around each other and skimming across the open water of Buena Vista Lagoon!

West Side:

Marketplace:

Saratoga Springs Resort Villas:

Little Boy getting too much sun!

Eventually, however, it was time to head back. We took an uneventful ride back to OKW. No alligator sightings, but there were a variety of birds... some with long legs and some with short...all along the shoreline. I was a bit busy steering, so I didn’t take more pix until we were approaching the now-familiar lighthouse icon and the marina beyond.



Old Key West Villas:

We motored up to one of the little docks and pulled along either side. Ed and another one of the ever-helpful lifeguards hoisted me out of the boat and I was once more on terra firma! We removed our life jackets and took a quick trip back to the office to collect my KTTWC, which had been kept as a security deposit. We heard lively party music coming from the theme pool. Oh, that’s right! There was a pool party scheduled today!



Ed needed to take Billy to the rest room, so Tricia and I decided to pop on over to the pool and check out the action. CMs were leading a group of kids by the pool in doing the “Cha-Cha Slide.” More guests were in the water trying to follow along!

I asked Tricia if she wanted to go over and join in, but she preferred to remain an onlooker and stay on the other side of the pool with me.

Next came a rousing version of “Cotton-Eye Joe.” (The pool dancers were cracking up at themselves trying to do this one!) Tricia and I enjoyed watching them, and she even did a bit of the dance where we were standing, but once the song was over, we began walking back towards the Hospitality House to collect the boys. It was after two and we still had to get cleaned up for the P&P Party.




We found them in Papa’s Den enjoying the air conditioning. Billy was... where else? In front of the little TV watching a Chip ‘N Dale cartoon!


Tricia sat down in one of the little wicker chairs next to Billy while I got comfy next to Ed on one of the overstuffed couches. There was hardly anyone over at the check-in counter, so we pretty much had the whole area to ourselves. (This was becoming a bit of a trend that day!)

Looking back towards the Marina:

It was nice to just hang out and relax a bit after having been out in the sun so much, but soon I felt as though we were getting just a little too comfortable! I had to roust everyone up and get us moving back to our room.


I don’t remember what I said to Ed, but I guess it made him laugh!

Next Up: Pirates and Princesses



Kathy

 

[DearDaisyinDurham]

CRIKEY!! Hate that the hat sank, feel bad for you and Tricia.
Great pics - so I know that Billy was getting a little too much sun but HOW CUTE is he in that hat!!!! Looking forward to P&P!!

 

[Halloweenqueen]

Wish I was back in NC, I could easily replace that hat!

Nothing but Cougar and Huskie stuff here.

 

[daly7o9]

My DD16 and I were swamped while she was driving one of those water mice as we passed under the bridge to Downtown Disney West side. We met one of the large boats under the bridge with nowhere to go, and as you said, there's no reverse on a boat! The water came over the bow and soaked us. We didn't sink, and consequently, it's one of our favorite memories of our time spent at Disney.

 

[mousescrapper]

What a bummer about the hat....

did it ever get replaced?


but I am relieved you didn't fall in!

 

[wvdislover]

Great update! I'm sorry you lost Tricia's hat, but truly glad you didn't fall in that nasty water! Did Eddie ever replace the hat?

 

[chicagoshannon]

Glad you didn't fall in the water! I hope she got another hat!

 

[moparop]

What bummer losing the hat! Better a hat going in than a mom I suppose! Did Eddie replace it?

 

[mom2mek]

Sad for Tricia, but glad for you! Phew! I was worried!

Lovely pictures of DTD from the water side!

Nice little captures of the kids in the Hospitality House - very cute!

Woo-hoo! Pirates and Princesses! Can't wait to hear all about it!

Sara

 

[MRYPPNS]

Kathy you'll have to forgive me if I don't want to go boating with you. lol Please don't ever go out in a canoe!!!

I would suggest renting a Boston Whaler from one of the Seven Seas Lagoon marinas so that you all can go together and Ed can drive. It's a lot of fun....DH and I did that in 2005 and will again when the kids are older.

 

[Hedy]

over Tricia's hat.

 

[mrsksomeday]

I am finally caught up! Great installments, that bossy lady made me mad . Why do people have to act like that. Where was her Disney attitude??

So sorry to hear about Tricia's hat . Looks like you had a good time. There is no way you would get me into one of those things . I loved the pics of Ed laughing, great pictures .

 

[IluvXU]

Sorry that the hat was lost that is a bummer! I am so excited to hear all about the party!

 

[KathyRN137]

CRIKEY!! Hate that the hat sank, feel bad for you and Tricia.
Great pics - so I know that Billy was getting a little too much sun but HOW CUTE is he in that hat!!!! Looking forward to P&P!!

It was a wee bit too small for him... but he loves it and insisted on wearing it! I'm glad it stayed stuck on his head!!

Wish I was back in NC, I could easily replace that hat!

Nothing but Cougar and Huskie stuff here.

My DD16 and I were swamped while she was driving one of those water mice.... We didn't sink, and consequently, it's one of our favorite memories of our time spent at Disney.

Oh my!


Kathy

 

[KathyRN137]

What a bummer about the hat....

did it ever get replaced?


but I am relieved you didn't fall in!

Great update! I'm sorry you lost Tricia's hat, but truly glad you didn't fall in that nasty water! Did Eddie ever replace the hat?

Glad you didn't fall in the water! I hope she got another hat!

What bummer losing the hat! Better a hat going in than a mom I suppose! Did Eddie replace it?

over Tricia's hat.

The short answer is... NO! She never did get a replacement. (I'll have to talk to Eddie about that... he's supposed to come for a visit next month!)

She'd be so surprised!

Kathy

 

[KathyRN137]

Kathy you'll have to forgive me if I don't want to go boating with you. lol Please don't ever go out in a canoe!!!


Oh... don't make Ed laugh!!

We went canoeing once BC (Before Children) and I was a wreck. Everytime we approached a rock I would have a cow!!

"Ed... rock! BIG ROCK!!"

He still tells that story and laughs!!



I would suggest renting a Boston Whaler from one of the Seven Seas Lagoon marinas so that you all can go together and Ed can drive. It's a lot of fun....DH and I did that in 2005 and will again when the kids are older.

I think that's an excellent idea!



Kathy