...And Then Scotty Happened. A Hawaiian Adventure (CHAPTER 32 Added 5/23--THE END)

[Captain_Oblivious]

I just called "my" Mark and told him that I better get more comfortable with flying because we are GOING BACK TO HAWAII. I can't wait to show him your pictures tonight. I will sacrifice and make that long flight just to stay at Aulani. Seriously, I am just in awe of what Disney has done.

And love the "pixie dust" of your suite location.

Julie and I both feel like the destination was totally worth the effort it took to get there. Not just Aulani, but Hawaii as a whole. You get to see things there that you just don't get to see anywhere else.

You know that feeling you get when you walk into a Disney resort and you can just feel the pressures and worries of the world melting away? Aulani has that in spades.

You could always break up the flight by stopping in California along the way.

Nice view! What room category is that?

This was classified as an island/garden view room. The industrial area is an eyesore, but we certainly didn't expect to see the ocean! And yes, the water really is that blue.

I love your post! You are certainly whetting my appetite for what to expect. I'm booked for a week at Aulani in February 2014. Can't wait to find out more about your trip. Keep it coming! @captainoblivious

You will love it! There's a lot to see on the rest of the island as well.

Yes… Yes it is.

It sure is close.

There’s really no point is going any farther…
I could go back and attempt to multi -quote this update, but honestly I’m too overwhelmed by the pictures to even think about it straight. I’ll surely find places to give you a hard time once y’all start venturing out onto the islands moving from one (mis)adventure to another, but right now all I can come up with is: “Whoa…”

Glad y’all got to do this trip. Hope someday I can do something like it (but I’ve been hoping that for over thirty-five years so I’ve got’s me doubts).

Oh, come on. Somebody has to give me a hard time here.

You can do it. Yes, it's expensive, but hopefully you can see how we were able to beg, borrow, and plunder our resources in order to make it happen.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

hey i live by the same rules.


nice kukui nuts, i have a few pairs of those from our maui trip.

I'm sure they have thousands of those pens in storage. They won't miss 2 or 3, right? I thought they might notice if the bathrobes were gone, though.

We'll be there a month from today!!! Can't wait to hear the rest of your trip

Spoiler alert: Hawaii is amazing!

Almost ALL bars are nasty if you ask me.

Yeah, I'm not sure I know anyone who gets excited to eat them. Although Costco has a Special K chocolate-pretzel bar that I like.

VERY good bday present!

Julie totally messed it up, though. We had bought her a beach towel from Disney World as a gift. So I wrapped up the mailing from Aulani that said, "Aloha ________ Family" and put it in the towel. So she unwrapped the box, saw the towel, and yanked it out of the box, which sent the Aulani card flying across the room.

Those rooms are awesome! Kind of like the reclassified standard but really savannah view rooms at Jambo. So happy you got one of these and that's without a request at all! Love it.

That's exactly what it felt like! We were thrilled.

Do I get to say I told you?

Sure! Not that we needed much convincing.

I couldn't agree more, you just said it better.

Told you. LOL!

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Oh, come on. Somebody has to give me a hard time here.

Oh... alright...
Gheeeze... ya' can't even let a guy be depressed and antisocial without having to make him feel bad about it and forcibly rejoin the rest of humanity...

well if that's the way it's gott'a be... then so be it.

Everyone eventually hits the wall. Some of us can last longer than others, of course, but lack of sleep or window seats will take its toll on anyone.

Ya' shoulda'a took a lesson from Scotty and started kickin' the seat of the woman in front of you that was begging for a dental exam. The stress relief from that a lone would have bought you a couple more hours of energy.

Hang on while I grab a Power Bar.

Ummmm... I'd advise against that...

Ok, I'm back and refreshed. Also, Power Bars are nasty.

Yah... that's what I was trying to warn ya' about.

We had all hit the wall in the cavernous aisles of Costco.

every one hits the wall at Costco
That's part of the joy of buying stuff by the quarter ton.

kids were already up way too late. The usual disputes over car seat-space began to arise in the back seat. I somehow found the willpower to refrain from uttering the immortal Dad line, "Don't make me come back there!"

Awwwwwww...
Daaaad... he's breathing my air!

And then we saw this:

Sure it's not a mirage?

We found the exit for the Ko Olina resort area (careful--there's only one exit sign and it pops up just before the exit).

Sounds like they may need to hire some experienced civil engineers out that way...

This signifies that you are entering a swanky resort area, which is like invading a foreign country for us pigs-in-a-blanket-type families.

Sounds like most of the neighborhoods surrounding us. They have check points where you have to let them weigh your wallet before you're allowed to pass.

We drove over a bridge crossing the highway and then down past a guard house (another sign that this land is not for mere peasants). I'm not sure what the purpose of the guard house was, exactly. They had a sign up saying the left lane was for resort guests and the right lane was for residents, but I was in the right lane and couldn't get over and blew right past the guard house. I had no problem checking in or parking, and never stopped there once during our stay.

Now you know how the one-percent live.
The rules don't apply.

We pulled up under the carport (porte cochere for you fancy-pants people)

***Burrrrrrrrrp!***

Julie was given a flower lei and I was given one made from kukui nuts, which symbolized...something or other.

One nut for each child's inheritance that you just spent.

Apparently we were fascinated with this window.

Well y'all are only operating on about half a watt of brain power by this time.

Then he led us to the front desk for check-in, which went smoothly. The guy at the front desk didn't even flinch when I blatantly stole his Aulani pen.

You'd already paid for it.

Julie and I had agreed ahead of time that we were basically going to swipe anything with the Aulani logo on it that wasn't nailed down.

See? I told you we were THAT family.

I don't know... Did you take the pillows?
I've seen it done.

Now let me pause here to tell you the story of how we got this room.

Some times you win...

So we were pleasantly surprised when we walked out onto the balcony to check out our island/garden view:

That's like the "standard view" we encountered at the WL.
Given the rest of the perks, I didn't care. I can't imagine having the problem in Hawaii.

One of the things I love about Disney properties the most is the way they engage all 5 senses... And I already mentioned the fruit water, so you smart-alecks can make sure all 5 senses are mentioned.

Who you calling a smar...
Oh, never mind... I just caught a glimpse in the mirror.

Don't you hate it when the picture looks fine on your camera view-screen, but you get home later and see it was ever-so-slightly out of focus?

Yah... but it happens so often that I'm starting to think that I'm subliminally sabotaging myself.

We'd flown 6,000 miles for an exotic experience, so our first meal was Costco pizza. Which we kind of burned in the oven.

Well if it's not something that you'd have tolerted or consented to at home...
Then it's exotic.

A perfect time for a midnight swim!

So when is the three o'clock parade?

And here's a spoiler on future chapters: the pool area is just plain awesome. I'll describe it some more later on with pictures.

Can't wait...
No, it'll just depress me too much...
but, It will be so awesome to see...
but I'll be tempted to spend bucks I don't got...
Or I could just live vicariously through y'all...
but... but... but... AAAAAARG! I'm so confused!

Pasty white guy alert! Avert your eyes!

Better then a fat ugly old guy alerts that I have to issue regularly.
Besides, it's not us that needed the warning...
It was the other guests.

Coming Up Next: Our first full day on Oahu begins with...more Aulani pictures. Because we couldn't stop exploring the place if we'd tried.

[/QUOTE]

Now that I'm pretty sure is a truthful statement.

You can do it. Yes, it's expensive, but hopefully you can see how we were able to beg, borrow, and plunder our resources in order to make it happen.

I can see how y'all did it.
Just not how I'll do it.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Congratulations on Cletus the stowaway!!!!

Thanks for the guidebook recommendations and driving tips! Duly noted. I entered the DIS' contest to win a trip... would love to put these tips to good use! I think I will have to take your sage advice and "move heaven and earth" to get there. It looks absolutely gorgeous!

Your wife's packing prowess is awe-inspiring. Five people for 2.5 weeks?? Even with the ability to do laundry it is impressive!!

Hate when the airlines change carefully selected seat assignments.

I may have to try "the Scotty method" the next time I am seated in front of a seat kicker. And ugh to the woman in front of you... WTH? I think reclining is just rude.

Hurrah for the second wind upon arriving at Aulani. The pictures are just stunning. I can totally see how a place like that would wipe all of your cares/worries right away. Looking forward to seeing more!

 

[franandaj]

Thanks for posting in the DVC section. I've seen you post on enough of my friend's TRs that I know about your smarta** sense of humor and thought it would be fun to give your TR a try!

You've definitely had me amused, LOLing, and I'm so glad that I made it in before page 10 because after that, I can never catch up!

First off congratulations on your next "tax deduction"!

I love everyone's sense of humor! From speaking in Klingon to Python jokes, this will be a very amusing TR with awesome pictures and great storytelling especially with the fact checker on board!

We are two folks (albeit Pooh sized folks) but we can't even make a week long trip without four large suitcases, just under 50lbs and the max carry ons. I don't know how she got your clothes, and the kids clothes into two suitcases!

Looking forward to hearing about the rest of your trip. Eventually we will make it to Aulani, but it may be another couple years since our "vacation card" is full through 2015. There was so much more that I wanted to comment on, but reading 9 pages, I forget a lot as I'm getting old.

 

[eandesmom]

Yeah, I'm not sure I know anyone who gets excited to eat them. Although Costco has a Special K chocolate-pretzel bar that I like.

Clif Mojo mountain mix or trail mix are pretty good, they have that sweet/savory thing going. One has pretzel but I can't recall which one, those and Trio are about it for me,

Julie totally messed it up, though. We had bought her a beach towel from Disney World as a gift. So I wrapped up the mailing from Aulani that said, "Aloha ________ Family" and put it in the towel. So she unwrapped the box, saw the towel, and yanked it out of the box, which sent the Aulani card flying across the room.

:

That is classic! Love it

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

I just LOVE all of your happy faces! It really is so special at Aulani-

I have to be careful not to over-hype it, because at its most basic, it's still a hotel with a nice pool and beach area. But it's the details where Disney just makes it so much better than anywhere else.

And I am THRILLED you found the malasada truck AND got the filled ones! Score! You did waaaay better than us!

Well, of course we found it. I'm an excellent navigator.

Oh! And Congratulations on your future little tax deduction! How exciting!

Thanks! Exciting is certainly one word for it.

Best. Birthday. Gift. Ever!

Great update. The resort looks stunning.

It really is. I wish our pictures of the lobby had turned out a little better. It's tricky to get the lighting right in there.

Burnt Costco pizza?

Win some, lose some.

Wow Wow Wow! That view is fabulous! Love it! I didn't really know the story of how you got the room, so I am so glad the waitlist came through for you. Niagara Falls can totally wait!

I was thrilled it came through, too. Not so thrilled when I had to write the check for it, but now that I've been there, it was totally worth the expense.

I can certainly understand hitting the wall in Costco. I can hit the wall there on a good day.

I like Costco overall. What drives me nuts are the people that decide to stop suddenly and block an entire aisle with their cart.

Beautiful pictures. You really told the story well even though you claim your pics are in random order.

Thanks! I just wanted the visuals to make sense.

I am with Kathy. I really don't care for long distance travel, but that place looks simply fabulous.

The worst part of long-distance travel is getting cramped in the airline seats. But you really miss out on a lot if you don't make the effort to get to these places.

More please!

I'll do my best!

BTW - I love Costco pizza. Seriously. I buy one everytime I'm in there.

We like it too. It's a cheap way to feed everyone!

Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! Do you think will like it as well, sans kids?

Let me think...yes.

I'm glad that everyone's spirits were lifted upon arrival. Your pictures of the resort are great, and your description even better. (I can totally relate to taking a picture and finding out later that it's out of focus. But no worries, you made up for it!)

Thanks Glenn! We'll chalk this up to a case of Disney adrenaline.

I have to say though, that your story about the waitlist has me worried about waitlisting. Maybe the studios are in less demand?

I seem to remember ocean-view rooms being available when my friend first made the call, but that would have been over our budget. I've heard a lot of stories of people having their wait list come through. I'm sure there are no guarantees, but hopefully it'll work out!

Oh and, Is this heaven? = Field of Dreams

+1

Oh wow! I just told DH all about your trip and your opinion that everyone should move heaven and earth to make it happen. He was born on Oahu and we've always wanted to go, with 3 kids the airfare is what keeps us from it- but we'll follow your advice and take them one day, even if its as college ages kids LOL

Can you save up frequent flier miles? That was a big factor for us. It took years, but it was worth it!

(Or just go after the kids are in college, and tell them they can fend for themselves)

You are really making me rethink my hatred of flying! I may need to put my big girl pants on and go!

Just think: Flying in an airplane only requires you to be able to sit in a seat. And you get Aulani at the end!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Oh... alright...
Gheeeze... ya' can't even let a guy be depressed and antisocial without having to make him feel bad about it and forcibly rejoin the rest of humanity...

well if that's the way it's gott'a be... then so be it.

Depression and antisocial behavior do not exist in this dojo.

Well, ok, that's not exactly true. But I don't want my TR to be the cause of it, at least. After all, we write these things to escape the drudgery of work!

Ya' shoulda'a took a lesson from Scotty and started kickin' the seat of the woman in front of you that was begging for a dental exam. The stress relief from that a lone would have bought you a couple more hours of energy.

That would have been a lot of fun. Until I got arrested, anyway.

Ummmm... I'd advise against that...

Yah... that's what I was trying to warn ya' about.

I should've packed extra malasadas.

every one hits the wall at Costco
That's part of the joy of buying stuff by the quarter ton.

Hey, who doesn't need 8 gallons of mustard?

Awwwwwww...
Daaaad... he's breathing my air!

Don't make me come back there!

Sounds like they may need to hire some experienced civil engineers out that way...

If nothing else, the signing could use a major overhaul.

Sounds like most of the neighborhoods surrounding us. They have check points where you have to let them weigh your wallet before you're allowed to pass.

Good thing I drove past, then.

Now you know how the one-percent live.
The rules don't apply.

Just remember, all generalizations are bad.

***Burrrrrrrrrp!***

I mean, uh, let's keep this TR classy.







Oh, never mind.

One nut for each child's inheritance that you just spent.

Sounds about right!

Well y'all are only operating on about half a watt of brain power by this time.

So it's a normal day, then.

You'd already paid for it.

I don't know... Did you take the pillows?
I've seen it done.

I can honestly state I never would have thought to do that.

Some times you win...

That's like the "standard view" we encountered at the WL.
Given the rest of the perks, I didn't care. I can't imagine having the problem in Hawaii.

We could see the ocean, so we were thrilled. It was easy to ignore the industrial area.

Who you calling a smar...
Oh, never mind... I just caught a glimpse in the mirror.

Yah... but it happens so often that I'm starting to think that I'm subliminally sabotaging myself.

I keep trying to check, and yet a few pictures still slip by.

Well if it's not something that you'd have tolerted or consented to at home...
Then it's exotic.

Works for me!

So when is the three o'clock parade?

It usually starts at the very moment I need to cross the parade route in order to get to the next cool ride.

Can't wait...
No, it'll just depress me too much...
but, It will be so awesome to see...
but I'll be tempted to spend bucks I don't got...
Or I could just live vicariously through y'all...
but... but... but... AAAAAARG! I'm so confused!

Let's go for "inspiration" instead of depression. Then we can start the 10-year plan of saving for Aulani.

Better then a fat ugly old guy alerts that I have to issue regularly.
Besides, it's not us that needed the warning...
It was the other guests.

Don't worry, I'm getting fatter, older and uglier every year!

I can see how y'all did it.
Just not how I'll do it.

Maybe not this year, maybe not next...but it can be done.

 

[afwdwfan]

So if Captain Jack Sparrow asks why the rum is gone again, now we know where to send him.

Well, I know they have plenty in Panama City Beach. At least they did as of last week.

Julie sent me to Target to buy a pregnancy test. I think she was punishing me.

Isn't the mention of the words "pregnancy test" when you're not expecting it to be relevant punishment enough?

With unexpected pregnancies, it's more like the 10 Stages of Numbing Shock. I can't name all of the stages, but here they are in emoticon form:

Seems about right...

But eventually we understood the phrase “Man plans, God laughs”

And boy was he ever...

The only right attitude is a positive one, and this little guy/gal just means we’ll have some more adventures. And lots of Baby Cletus stories.

Just think how much entertainment value Scotty has brought into your lives!

Also I probably shouldn’t have had all that coffee.

Not to mention the fact that you don't want to be that guy getting up to use the airplane lavatory every 2 minutes.

Here, I must acknowledge my wife as the Packing Goddess. We were spending approximately 2.5 weeks in Hawaii and somehow she managed to do it with 2 checked bags. And they were both under the 50-lb. limit. I don’t know how she does it (I'm pretty sure it involves voodoo curses), but yeah…she’s good.

I'm almost scared to know her secrets. I mean, just look at how she snuck the 4th kid onto the plane...

At one point, the kid behind Scotty started kicking his seat. So Scotty started heaving himself backwards into his seat in retaliation. Made me kinda proud, actually.

We landed in San Francisco and had a very tight layover: 40 minutes. Naturally, the plane sat on the runway after landing for a while. Then we finally pulled into the gate...and sat again. Nobody opened the doors. Then, an announcement: "Folks, we're about 6 inches short of the gate and they'd like us to pull forward. Please stay seated with your seat belts on..."

Yeah... that only happens when you have a tight layover.

And it always happens when you have a tight layover.

I'm not proud of this, but I made a pregnant woman sprint. So she made me carry her bag. Seemed like a fair trade.

Made might be a little bit harsh. I'm pretty sure she was willing.


After all, I'm sure she knew you were getting on that plane with or without her.

I'm sure the view was glorious from the window seats.

Pictures or it didn't happen.

The interstate highway, H-1, was above us. We just couldn't find a way up there.

So the civil Engineer can't figure out how to get to the highway...

With all the effort we expended, these had better be the Greatest Donuts Ever. By the way, the correct exit is Exit 7, in case you're taking notes.

I hope they were worth it. I'd have given up the idea of finding that truck a long time ago!

Ok, I'm back and refreshed. Also, Power Bars are nasty.

Captain Obvious?

I somehow found the willpower to refrain from uttering the immortal Dad line, "Don't make me come back there!"

I always prefer to go with the "reaching back and swatting blindly."

We were immediately swarmed by smiling cast members greeting us with a "Welcome home." Julie was given a flower lei and I was given one made from kukui nuts, which symbolized...something or other. I'll be honest, I wasn't really paying much attention because my brain was busy going, "Holy @#$%! I can't believe we're here!"

I always feel a little overwhelmed after a long day of traveling. I understand and appreciate the "welcome" that you get at certain resorts, but wouldn't you like to have a few seconds to get out of the car, stretch, and gather your senses before they start the assault.

See? I told you we were THAT family.

And nobody doubted you.

"Aulani!" they said, not even letting me finish the sentence. Mama didn't raise no dummies.

And that is no small feat, considering the father.

Remember, this is not an ocean view room. This is what is known around Disney parts as pixie dust. Woohoo!

That is some definite pixie dust!!!

Don't you hate it when the picture looks fine on your camera view-screen, but you get home later and see it was ever-so-slightly out of focus?

It was amazing how much of a second wind everyone in the family got. We forgot about being tired, hungry and grumpy. Instead we were simply thinking, "Wow..."

I can see how that might happen...

We'd flown 6,000 miles for an exotic experience, so our first meal was Costco pizza. Which we kind of burned in the oven. But we were still hungry enough to eat it.

But it was burned Costco pizza in Hawaii... which I'm pretty sure on the scale of "best pizza ever" sits somewhere not too far from the pizzas at Via Napoli.

I think it was on the wrong setting the whole time. So I apologize for the size.

Pasty white guy alert! Avert your eyes!

You're apologizing for it???

You really should have said it was intentional. You know... you made the pictures smaller to protect our eyes from the full exposure to the pasty white guy.

Ya' shoulda'a took a lesson from Scotty and started kickin' the seat of the woman in front of you that was begging for a dental exam. The stress relief from that a lone would have bought you a couple more hours of energy.

Rob makes a very good point here.

Maybe you should have just traded Scotty seats?

 

[Cinderella's Fella]

I'm almost scared to know her secrets. I mean, just look at how she snuck the 4th kid onto the plane...

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Congratulations on Cletus the stowaway!!!!

Thank you! Julie doesn't like the name "Cletus" for some reason, so I keep using it just to annoy her.

Thanks for the guidebook recommendations and driving tips! Duly noted. I entered the DIS' contest to win a trip... would love to put these tips to good use! I think I will have to take your sage advice and "move heaven and earth" to get there. It looks absolutely gorgeous!

I hope it helps! The books really helped us find some cool spots. And like I said, the maps were very helpful.

Your wife's packing prowess is awe-inspiring. Five people for 2.5 weeks?? Even with the ability to do laundry it is impressive!!

Agreed.

Hate when the airlines change carefully selected seat assignments.

Airlines stink. Period.

I may have to try "the Scotty method" the next time I am seated in front of a seat kicker. And ugh to the woman in front of you... WTH? I think reclining is just rude.

Some people think about their actions and the effect they have on others...and some don't.

Hurrah for the second wind upon arriving at Aulani. The pictures are just stunning. I can totally see how a place like that would wipe all of your cares/worries right away. Looking forward to seeing more!

Don't worry, there's more to come!

Thanks for posting in the DVC section.

aboard! Thanks for joining in!

I've seen you post on enough of my friend's TRs that I know about your smarta** sense of humor and thought it would be fun to give your TR a try!

Moi?

First off congratulations on your next "tax deduction"!

Thank you very much! Second incomes are overrated anyway.

I love everyone's sense of humor! From speaking in Klingon to Python jokes, this will be a very amusing TR with awesome pictures and great storytelling especially with the fact checker on board!

I don't know if you've seen the DIS Dads around, but we're all pretty good at giving each other crap. And quoting movies.

And then I seem to have made friends with some others on the board who may not be DIS Dads, but are still excellent at giving me crap.

We are two folks (albeit Pooh sized folks) but we can't even make a week long trip without four large suitcases, just under 50lbs and the max carry ons. I don't know how she got your clothes, and the kids clothes into two suitcases!

Maybe it helped that we mostly went with shorts and t-shirts? I still think it involves voodoo magic. Do you two know any voodoo?

Looking forward to hearing about the rest of your trip. Eventually we will make it to Aulani, but it may be another couple years since our "vacation card" is full through 2015. There was so much more that I wanted to comment on, but reading 9 pages, I forget a lot as I'm getting old.

I hope you enjoy it. And I hope you can make it to Aulani someday. Definitely worth the effort.

Clif Mojo mountain mix or trail mix are pretty good, they have that sweet/savory thing going. One has pretzel but I can't recall which one, those and Trio are about it for me,

Haven't heard of them. I should just carry slices of bacon around instead.

That is classic! Love it

My romantic grand gestures always seem to backfire.

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Depression and antisocial behavior do not exist in this dojo.

Wax on... wax off...

Just remember, all generalizations are bad.

Generally speaking...

I can honestly state I never would have thought to do that.

Then you're not "That Family", you only "that family"...
Not same thing

Let's go for "inspiration" instead of depression. Then we can start the 10-year plan of saving for Aulani.

I like it, but I'm still working on a slightly different ten-year plan right now, so it may need to be a twenty or thirty year plan.
I'll let you know if I figure out another option.
(assuming it's legal... otherwise I'll keep it to myself)

Don't worry, I'm getting fatter, older and uglier every year!

Certainly beats not having more years.
That's a win under any circumstance.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Well, I know they have plenty in Panama City Beach. At least they did as of last week.

Now everyone in Panama City Beach is wondering where the rum has gone.

Isn't the mention of the words "pregnancy test" when you're not expecting it to be relevant punishment enough?

One would think. Maybe Julie's more evil than most people.

And boy was he ever...

Just think how much entertainment value Scotty has brought into your lives!

This is true. But two of him might cause a rift in the space-time continuum.

Not to mention the fact that you don't want to be that guy getting up to use the airplane lavatory every 2 minutes.

Speaking of which, have you noticed how absolutely no one pays attention to the seat belt sign anymore? They just get up whenever they want to.

I'm almost scared to know her secrets. I mean, just look at how she snuck the 4th kid onto the plane...

Yeah... that only happens when you have a tight layover.

And it always happens when you have a tight layover.

Well, at least the gates were as far apart as possible. So there's that.

Made might be a little bit harsh. I'm pretty sure she was willing.


After all, I'm sure she knew you were getting on that plane with or without her.

Truth.

So the civil Engineer can't figure out how to get to the highway...

One paragraph in the guidebook on Oahu apologized for the highway system up front. They basically promised that at some point on your trip, you would get lost.

And...they're right.

I hope they were worth it. I'd have given up the idea of finding that truck a long time ago!

We will go far and wide for donuts.

Captain Obvious?

That's my cousin.

I always prefer to go with the "reaching back and swatting blindly."

Crude, but sporadically effective.

I always feel a little overwhelmed after a long day of traveling. I understand and appreciate the "welcome" that you get at certain resorts, but wouldn't you like to have a few seconds to get out of the car, stretch, and gather your senses before they start the assault.

Well, it's not as bad as I made it out to be. We were ready to be pampered by Aulani, I can tell you that.

And nobody doubted you.

I just signed some papers with my Aulani pen. Yeah, it felt good.

And that is no small feat, considering the father.

That was carefully phrased for a reason.

That is some definite pixie dust!!!

Yup. Colors are really more brilliant in Hawaii.

But it was burned Costco pizza in Hawaii... which I'm pretty sure on the scale of "best pizza ever" sits somewhere not too far from the pizzas at Via Napoli.

Burnt pizza in Hawaii still tastes like burnt pizza. So I don't think I can put it in the "best pizza ever" pantheon. But there is an element that makes you not care, since you're just trying to scarf it down before heading out to try the waterslides anyway.

You're apologizing for it???

You really should have said it was intentional. You know... you made the pictures smaller to protect our eyes from the full exposure to the pasty white guy.

You may say that, but let me ask the female readers what they think about this issue...



Ok, I'm back. They said to delete it altogether.

Rob makes a very good point here.

Maybe you should have just traded Scotty seats?

I had an aisle seat and Scotty had a middle seat. So, pick your poison.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Wax on... wax off...[

Where did these cars come from, anyway?

Then you're not "That Family", you only "that family"...
Not same thing

Well, that's a relief! I think.

I like it, but I'm still working on a slightly different ten-year plan right now, so it may need to be a twenty or thirty year plan.
I'll let you know if I figure out another option.
(assuming it's legal... otherwise I'll keep it to myself)

Remember, Red. Hope is a good thing. Maybe the best of things. And no truly good thing ever dies.

Certainly beats not having more years.
That's a win under any circumstance.

Amen to that.

 

[jmwest]

And then we saw this:

Excitement level--rising. Troubles--melting away.

Great start to the trip!

Move heaven and earth to get there. If we can do it, so can you.

Lexy and I went to Oahu and Maui for our honeymoon. We've always said that someday we will go back with the family. Now that we have our third (and last ) on the way I need to set out a time table for that to happen an it looks like Aulani will definitely need to be a part of that. I guess it's time to start over on that 5 year plan.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Great start to the trip!

You mean Aulani? Yes. Yes, it was.

Lexy and I went to Oahu and Maui for our honeymoon. We've always said that someday we will go back with the family. Now that we have our third (and last ) on the way I need to set out a time table for that to happen an it looks like Aulani will definitely need to be a part of that. I guess it's time to start over on that 5 year plan.

Totally worth it! We said Scotty was our last, too.

 

[Cinderella's Fella]

This is true. But two of him might cause a rift in the space-time continuum.

Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling!

Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes...

The dead rising from the grave!

Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Where did these cars come from, anyway?

Detroit...

Remember, Red. Hope is a good thing. Maybe the best of things. And no truly good thing ever dies.

You know what the Mexicans say about the Pacific?
They say it has no memory. That's where I want to live the rest of my life.
a warm place with no memory.

Amen to that.

Tell it brother!
Tell it!

 

[middlepat]

Great update there Captain, My Captain!

Love seeing the butane containment tanks in the view. (or was that not the scenic look you were referring to?)

Remember, Red. Hope is a good thing. Maybe the best of things. And no truly good thing ever dies.

Shawshank Redemption

Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling!

Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes...

The dead rising from the grave!

Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!

Ghostbusters

You know what the Mexicans say about the Pacific?
They say it has no memory. That's where I want to live the rest of my life.
a warm place with no memory.

Shawshank Redemption. (again)

How many points did I get?

Or is this like Who's Line Is It Anyway? where the points don't matter.

Can't wait to see more HI. (and Aulani)

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling!

Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes...

The dead rising from the grave!

Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!

Don't forget the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man!

Detroit...

For you, beginner luck.

You know what the Mexicans say about the Pacific?
They say it has no memory. That's where I want to live the rest of my life.
a warm place with no memory.

I think that's true. The Pacific gave no indication that it remembered me from my last visit.

Great update there Captain, My Captain!

Hey, thanks! I figured you could take comfort in the fact that even in Hawaii, we were still having pizza mis-haps.

Love seeing the butane containment tanks in the view. (or was that not the scenic look you were referring to?)

Everywhere I looked, I saw something that reminded me of her...

Shawshank Redemption



Ghostbusters



Shawshank Redemption. (again)

How many points did I get?

+3

Or is this like Who's Line Is It Anyway? where the points don't matter.

Pretty much. I'm not even bothering to keep track of them.

Can't wait to see more HI. (and Aulani)

Coming right up! (eventually)