Back from Wonderland:wAlice,Madhatter,ChesCat&White Rabbit 11/11Thank You

[Flossbolna]

Patricia, once I again I am so much behind on commenting on your updates, but they are absolutely wonderful and extremely enjoyable!

It's so wonderful that Rabbit got to flight Darth Vader! Sometimes certain things are so much more special for some people and I am happy that you as a family could enjoy this event together!

I remember the rush to TSM very well from my last trip, I really could not believe it. And the annyoing thing was that we would have been all the way upfront, if we hadn't waited for a bus to come to the Poly to take us to DHS for over 40 minutes!!

Japan is my favourite WS country, too. I end up getting something from that store on every trip. Katharina and I both have really nice handbags from there (black with Japanese flowerprints) and I got a nice plate for serving sushi... And I love all the snacks, too! Just saw yesterday that the WDWRadio podcast has a video up where Lou Mongello tries various strange snacks. Quite amusing: http://www.wdwradio.com/WDW-Radio-Videos.html?videoId=WtSScdJ425o

Sorry that you did not order the right thing at Chefs. I would never eat Bouillabaisse since I am not a seafood fan, but I have seen it in restaurants in France. As far as I know it is quite spicy as it is supposed to be served with a sauce called rouille, which more or less is a spicy mayonaisse with lots of garlic. The rouille I have tried and it is wonderful!! Perhaps you need to give it a try next spring in Paris!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

WOW Patricia! Just WOW!! Your post was AMAZING! It brought tears to my eyes and gave me goose bumps!


I may have mentioned before that my 16 year old nephew has aspergers. I have a very special bond with my sisters kids, it's more like they're my other 3 kids. Not my nieces and nephew. My nephew was born in a time that my BIL was still in the US Coast Guard and was gone a lot. My sister spent a lot of that time at my parents house and I was still in high school at the time. So, I've always been very close to him, as well as his sisters.

We knew he was different from other kids very early on and that only became more apparent as he got older.

As he got older a few things became very apparent. He always took thing that were said very seriously and literally. He never understood a joke or saracism. He would obsess over 1 toy or group of toys. He didn't under certain social cues, including personal space, and in response to the nervousness that was caused by that he would either giggle or cry. Usually cry. Of course at that point no one knew what the problem really was a it appeared that he was crying for no reason. Not something a 9 year old boy should do in school and not expect to be made fun of.

When he was given the aspergers diagnosis, probably 8 years ago now, my sister and her family lived in Maine and had no computer so I became my sisters researcher. I poured over the internet, countless pages later I had learned quite a bit and mailed my sister a huge manila envelop FULL of info.

Since that diagnosis we seen his life take the twists and turns that most kids go through. But in a very different way.

When he was diagnosed my sister, BIL and school pychologist decided it was best not to tell him. They didn't want him using a label as an excuse. I really think it was the best thing for him at the time. He does know now but it doesn't appear that having a label has effected him in anyway.

We've watched him grow into such a wonderful, smart young man it makes me beam with pride.

He's grown to understand most social cues. Although he forgets from time to time especially when he thinks something is funny.

He found a niche in High School in the drama department and is a superb actor! He even wrote a short play about the trials and tribulations of his life that was performed at his school in this past spring. Unfortunately I didn't get to see it but my parents did. My mom can't talk about it without crying. My mom also relayed that my dad sat there and cried. I've seen my dad cry twice in my life, once when my grandmother died and once when his best friend commited suicide. You know he had to moved to have cried.

He has such an amazing sense of self confidence and self worth it's amazing. All teenagers should have that!!

I know my sister used to get overwhelmed, especially in situations where other people just didn't understand. But thats changed a lot as he's gotten older and learned most of the inherent skills that were missing.

Your story just really touched my heart knowing that my nephew was in a very similar situation!

Seeing those pictures was like watching a great and epic battle just like you described!! Absolutely amazing!!! WOW!!

I also have to note 2 things! 1 being that I love that you got him with his feet off the ground!!! LOVE THAT PICTURE!! 2 being, remember you talked about kids greedy little hearts with the toys. Well DS2 just about freaked out because he saw Hatters shoes!! He has red Chuck Taylor All-Stars and thought that the boy in the picture somehow got his shoes!!! I had got get his and show them to him so he would stop yelling "My shoes, my shoes!!"

 

[MrsSpratt]

I am SO BEHIND!

Patricia, so well written, so touching - I have tears rolling onto my keyboard - what a GREAT Mom you are!

Best,

Mrs. Spratt

 

[Charleston Princess]

My little guy just defeated Darth Vader and struck a blow for the light side of the force...

I WILL remember this moment for the rest of my life...

My son, the Jedi defeated Darth Vader...

It really doesn't get much better that this.

This says it all, Patricia, both metaphorically and literally!!! I must confess that while I sat down to read this update with a Halloween cookie, I quickly put it down as I began to read and was quite teary by the end of it! Awesome update and that picture of David leaping up with his lightsaber while battling Darth Vader was pure Disney magic at its best!!!

Toy Story in 3D-that has David's name written all over it... He told Eric that he wanted some green Army men...Eric was planning on getting a plain old bag......c'mon Dad-everyone knows it's the Toy Story Green Men that he wants...

Exactly -- I am planning on trying to find a bucket of army men while we are down there this weekend (my mental souvenir list for the kids seems to keep growing -- it might be a guilt thing -- Chelsea has already requested a Food and Wine wineglass as her souvenir ).

 

[jordanyosh]

I missed the Jedi update....I'm crying....seriously....it. can't.get.any.better.

what an amazing moment and the fact it's documented with pics!!!!!

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

A little personal plug...this is an amazing story/video/athlete...

Cut and paste...http://surf.quiksilver.com/index.aspx then go into surf and at the bottom middle -you'll see Clay Marzo-Just Add Water...it talks about and shows Clay, his amazing surfing and about his diagnosis-his parents looked for years until he was diagnosed about 2 years ago...

(I would have linked it-but I was having trouble doing so...)

Marzo is a professional surfer who has Asperger's Syndrome...he is considered to currently being the best in his age group...(he's 20 now but was 18 when the DVD was made...

I bought this DVD and love it because it blows away so many of the stereotypes about Asperger's...people with "Asperger's" aren't supposed to be athletic-but in Clay's case...its all about finding the right sport...or having the right sport find you...Even if you aren't a surfer or don't like surfing-you can't help be amazed at what this guy can do in the water...very, very cool...

Plus they put in a plug for a group called Surfers Healing-which in a non profit that gets kids from all over the Spectrum on boards into the water...(Water tends to be a very healing medium)

I totally missed your update from last night this morning when I clicked on here!

Pardon me while I wipe away my tears. This moment is so special, thank you for sharing it with us.

I used to work in a Crisis Stabilization Unit for kids, a lot of the kids we saw had Aspergers so I have a special place in my heart for those diagnosed with it. Marc's work currently has two houses dedicated to children with Aspergers at the facility he works out. Why I'm saying this is because....this weekend we watched The Amazing Race and they have a team on there and one of them has Aspergers and watching this man overcome obstacles and competing in a race that is unpredictable and crazy was so heart warming. I love that he is on that show because he really shows kids with Aspergers that they can do anything. I was crying at one point during the episode because the man gave a worker on the bus his jacket because he working out in the rain. *Sniff Sniff*

I had read about the ARace guy...I didn't see the show-I'll have to google it......Individuals with AS can be athletes...they just tend to prefer the more non-team sports...because picking up some of the cuing can be rough...but many excel in swimming, track, martial arts, cycling, etc...Clay Marzo is the best surfer in the world in his age group...pretty cool...

Wow- you worked in a Crisis Stabilization Unit......I would imagine that that could be tough...If I can ask...what does Marc do? It sounds like the two of you have done work in nurturing kinds of professions...

It is important to get a diagnosis as early as possible-not to have a label...but to have an understanding of how best to help a child...children are elastic and can make great gains...the earlier the better...ie. with social thinking...just like with learning a foreign language-which in a way is what social thinking is for these children...the brain will adapt and absorb it more easily the younger they are...

I have seen the bulls run.

I'm not sure it has anything on how you described the TSM fast pass rush! I don't know that I'll ever see it but wow, my heart was pounding!



Oh my heart hurts that you went through that. My nephew was kicked out of 2 schools before finding his right place. The private schools that should have been able to help him, were nightmarish and it took going to their public elementary to find the right place. I just cannot understand any school kicking a child out in kindergarten. No matter what!



No, it doesn't.

What a magical magical moment.

Did you really see the bulls run...in Spain...? was it cool...or scary...or both?

TSM Bull Run is something else...

Yeah it was pretty pitiful looking back on it -that my son got "kicked" out of his private school after Prek-admittedly -he was welcome to apply again the following year-...but not for acting out, being oppositional, angry, unable to do the work...but honestly because they are private school and don't have to deal with his needs if they don't want to...simple as that...

Yep...it was my top magical moment of the trip...although taking them both to the Pirates League...was pretty funny too...

I couldn't resist

It gave me a big laugh-I think there a quite a few folks who have been thwarted in their attempt at a Le Cellier Reservation who might not think its funny though...in my opinion-laughter is some of the best medicine...

I have tears in my eyes... WOW!! What an amazing experience on so many different levels. And beautifully told by you. Thank you so much for sharing this triumphant moment.

Aww...thank you......it was cathartic writing it...I didn't realize I had been holding on to so much anger...but seeing David up there...that's what really matters...

Patricia, once I again I am so much behind on commenting on your updates, but they are absolutely wonderful and extremely enjoyable!

It's so wonderful that Rabbit got to flight Darth Vader! Sometimes certain things are so much more special for some people and I am happy that you as a family could enjoy this event together!

I remember the rush to TSM very well from my last trip, I really could not believe it. And the annyoing thing was that we would have been all the way upfront, if we hadn't waited for a bus to come to the Poly to take us to DHS for over 40 minutes!!

Japan is my favourite WS country, too. I end up getting something from that store on every trip. Katharina and I both have really nice handbags from there (black with Japanese flowerprints) and I got a nice plate for serving sushi... And I love all the snacks, too! Just saw yesterday that the WDWRadio podcast has a video up where Lou Mongello tries various strange snacks. Quite amusing: http://www.wdwradio.com/WDW-Radio-Videos.html?videoId=WtSScdJ425o

Sorry that you did not order the right thing at Chefs. I would never eat Bouillabaisse since I am not a seafood fan, but I have seen it in restaurants in France. As far as I know it is quite spicy as it is supposed to be served with a sauce called rouille, which more or less is a spicy mayonaisse with lots of garlic. The rouille I have tried and it is wonderful!! Perhaps you need to give it a try next spring in Paris!

Hmm...I was wondering if there is any of that running for rides craziness in DLP...I can't picture it...

Japan is so well done...lovely...great store...(really, really great store...)

I like to think of myself as a pleasant, agreeable person-and I have seldom sent something back to the kitchen...I couldn't really justify sending my dinner back...it wasn't bad...it just wasn't very good nor what I was expecting...(In my head...I was picturing my friend who grew up in France-she would have sent it back in a heart beat...I can just hear her in my mind..."This is not Bouillabaisse...what are you trying to do...you would not serve this in France...take it away..." of course she would have said all of this in rapid fire perfect French...my French while passable is neither perfect or rapid fire...

I think I selected something too ambitious-Chefs is know for doing certain things well...and I should have stuck to one of them...the creme brulee was quite good though...

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

WOW Patricia! Just WOW!! Your post was AMAZING! It brought tears to my eyes and gave me goose bumps!


I may have mentioned before that my 16 year old nephew has aspergers. I have a very special bond with my sisters kids, it's more like they're my other 3 kids. Not my nieces and nephew. My nephew was born in a time that my BIL was still in the US Coast Guard and was gone a lot. My sister spent a lot of that time at my parents house and I was still in high school at the time. So, I've always been very close to him, as well as his sisters.

We knew he was different from other kids very early on and that only became more apparent as he got older.

As he got older a few things became very apparent. He always took thing that were said very seriously and literally. He never understood a joke or saracism. As a general rule language is taken at face value...jokes can be hard because they are nuanced and not literal -some things that we take as funny...if you interpret them literally sound quite scary..."I have so much to do I'm falling apart..." if you take that literally... btw-there is a book of idioms out-written specifically for people with AS-kind of like a dictionary...I had a speech teacher recommend a book called Parts last year...it's all about this boy hearing stuff like "laughing my head off" etc...Rabbit loved it...so much...that now he kind of collect idioms-he thinks they are a riot...

He would obsess over 1 toy or group of toys. (Ah yes...the special interest appears...the up side of that is sometimes it can turn into a career option ie. weather...meteorolgist..computerers...programmer, photos-photographer, etc... He didn't under certain social cues, including personal space, and in response to the nervousness that was caused by that he would either giggle or cry. Usually cry. Of course at that point no one knew what the problem really was a it appeared that he was crying for no reason. Not something a 9 year old boy should do in school and not expect to be made fun of. (Anyway would cry if they didn't get what was going on around them...Of course he was upset-he was trying to figure out what was going on around him and having a tough time...if someone plopped me down in China with no Chinese or lessons in the culture and people were just yelling at me in Chinese like that was going to help...I'd be crying too...


When he was given the aspergers diagnosis, probably 8 years ago now, my sister and her family lived in Maine and had no computer so I became my sisters researcher. I poured over the internet, countless pages later I had learned quite a bit and mailed my sister a huge manila envelop FULL of info.
(how awesome for your sister to have such a supportive sibling...)

Since that diagnosis we seen his life take the twists and turns that most kids go through. But in a very different way.

When he was diagnosed my sister, BIL and school pychologist decided it was best not to tell him. They didn't want him using a label as an excuse. I really think it was the best thing for him at the time. He does know now but it doesn't appear that having a label has effected him in anyway.

We're struggling with that right now-Rabbit hasn't heard us use the term Asperger's although-we've talked about how he's really great at some things...and other things are much harder...he told me in the car last year that he thought "his brain worked different" than some of the other kids...so he sees it...I'm torn on giving him the label...if I do it it would be so he can learn to start to self advocate and understand what he needs...he also has a lot of gifts too...

We've watched him grow into such a wonderful, smart young man it makes me beam with pride.

...


He's grown to understand most social cues. Although he forgets from time to time especially when he thinks something is funny.

You can learn to become socially adroit...it's just not first nature to you...kind of like the difference again with having Chinese as your first language or one you learned...the latter you still have to think in your head and translate-it isn't automatic...

He found a niche in High School in the drama department and is a superb actor! He even wrote a short play about the trials and tribulations of his life that was performed at his school in this past spring. Unfortunately I didn't get to see it but my parents did. My mom can't talk about it without crying. My mom also relayed that my dad sat there and cried. I've seen my dad cry twice in my life, once when my grandmother died and once when his best friend commited suicide. You know he had to moved to have cried.

He has such an amazing sense of self confidence and self worth it's amazing. All teenagers should have that!!

He sounds like a really amazing young man.....there are actually supposed to be more people in creative fields like acting then people realize (Dan Ackroyd always comes up...Daryl Hannah, Tim Burton to name a few who have actually admitted to it-there is plenty of speculation of many others..,)..acting can be a great outlet for kids with AS if they want to because in addition to getting to be creative...it also teaches them to take another person's perspective on a situation..What a superb moment for your family....

Most kids with AS are amongst the kindest, most sensitive people youll ever meet...they have a very egalitarian view of people-hold no prejudice, can't compehend cruelty...

I am so happy to hear that your nephew is in a good place feeling good about himself...he should...


I know my sister used to get overwhelmed, especially in situations where other people just didn't understand. But thats changed a lot as he's gotten older and learned most of the inherent skills that were missing.

Your story just really touched my heart knowing that my nephew was in a very similar situation!

Thanks so much for sharing...there is comfort in numbers and knowing that you aren't the only one...


Seeing those pictures was like watching a great and epic battle just like you described!! Absolutely amazing!!! WOW!!

I also have to note 2 things! 1 being that I love that you got him with his feet off the ground!!! LOVE THAT PICTURE!! 2 being, remember you talked about kids greedy little hearts with the toys. Well DS2 just about freaked out because he saw Hatters shoes!! He has red Chuck Taylor All-Stars and thought that the boy in the picture somehow got his shoes!!! I had got get his and show them to him so he would stop yelling "My shoes, my shoes!!"
I love that photo too...in fact...I want to do something special with it -still deciding...Oh no your poor son...I hope he knows his are safe...

I am SO BEHIND!

Patricia, so well written, so touching - I have tears rolling onto my keyboard - what a GREAT Mom you are!

Best,

Mrs. Spratt

Mrs. Spratt-where you've been at? ...good to see...uhh...hear you...read you...you know what I mean...I'm glad you are here...

Thanks-I have GREAT kids to mother...

This says it all, Patricia, both metaphorically and literally!!! I must confess that while I sat down to read this update with a Halloween cookie, I quickly put it down as I began to read and was quite teary by the end of it! Awesome update and that picture of David leaping up with his lightsaber while battling Darth Vader was pure Disney magic at its best!!!



Exactly -- I am planning on trying to find a bucket of army men while we are down there this weekend (my mental souvenir list for the kids seems to keep growing -- it might be a guilt thing -- Chelsea has already requested a Food and Wine wineglass as her souvenir ).

Awww...man I didn't mean to come between you and your Halloween cookie......oh well you do have the F & W Festival...and you are probably there right now...

I have a sneaking feeling that both Connor and Chelsea are going to be making out quite well upon your return...wine glass...huh...that's just the kind of thing Emily would ask for......well you have to applaud their good taste even if questioning the umm appropriateness of the gift...

I missed the Jedi update....I'm crying....seriously....it. can't.get.any.better.

what an amazing moment and the fact it's documented with pics!!!!!

Awww...Jordan...you old softy...Yep...it was pretty amazing...

 

[eandesmom]

A little personal plug...this is an amazing story/video/athlete...

Cut and paste...http://surf.quiksilver.com/index.aspx-then go into surf and at the bottom middle -you'll see Clay Marzo-Just Add Water...it talks about and shows Clay, his amazing surfing and about his diagnosis-his parents looked for years until he was diagnosed about 2 years ago...

(I would have linked it-but I was having trouble doing so...)

Marzo is a professional surfer who has Asperger's Syndrome...he is considered to currently being the best in his age group...(he's 20 now but was 18 when the DVD was made...

I bought this DVD and love it because it blows away so many of the stereotypes about Asperger's...people with "Asperger's" aren't supposed to be athletic-but in Clay's case...its all about finding the right sport...or having the right sport find you...Even if you aren't a surfer or don't like surfing-you can't help be amazed at what this guy can do in the water...very, very cool...

Plus they put in a plug for a group called Surfers Healing-which in a non profit that gets kids from all over the Spectrum on boards into the water...(Water tends to be a very healing medium)

I never thought about water that way but oh, it makes sense! I can think of several examples of kids I know where this is true. My nephew who is on the spectrum (and got kicked out twice though his was for behavioral issues/impulse control...he couldn't verbalize what he wanted so acted out) excels in the water. As does another nephew with entirely different issues (epilepsy).

The AR guy was wonderful to watch, I am looking forward to this season for that part if nothing else.

Did you really see the bulls run...in Spain...? was it cool...or scary...or both?

TSM Bull Run is something else...

Yeah it was pretty pitiful looking back on it -that my son got "kicked" out of his private school after Prek-admittedly -he was welcome to apply again the following year-...but not for acting out, being oppositional, angry, unable to do the work...but honestly because they are private school and don't have to deal with his needs if they don't want to...simple as that...

Yep...it was my top magical moment of the trip...although taking them both to the Pirates League...was pretty funny too...

Yes, I saw the bulls run in Pamplona, Spain, right after I graduated from college on a summer backpacking trip. The bull run is just...wild. I can't even think of how to describe it. It's over in what seemed like all of 5 seconds as the runners and bulls raced by but the intensity of those 5 seconds is truly something that stays with you.

As does the horror and tragedy of a true bullfight.

The Running of the Bulls (in Spanish encierro, from the verb encerrar, to lock/shut up, to pen)is a practice that involves running in front of bulls that have been let loose on a course of a sectioned-off subset of a town's streets. The most famous running of the bulls is that of the nine-day festival of San Fermín in Pamplona, although they are held in towns and villages across Spain, Portugal, and in some cities in Mexico[3] and southern France, during the summer. Unlike bullfights, which are performed by professionals, anyone may participate in an encierro.

The purpose of this event is the transport of the bulls from the off-site corrals where they had spent the night, to the bullring where they would be killed in the evening. Youngsters would jump among them to show off their bravado.

Spanish lore says the true origin began in Northeastern Spain during the early 14th century. While transporting cattle in order to sell at the market, men would attempt to speed the process by hurrying their cattle using tactics of fear and excitement. After years of this practice, the transportation and hurrying began to turn into a competition, as younger adults would attempt to race in front of the bulls and make it safe in the pen prior to the bulls. When the popularity of this practice increased and was noticed more and more by the expanding population of Spanish cities, a tradition was created and stands to this day.

Injuries are common to the participants who may be gored or trampled and to the bulls, whose hooves grip poorly on the paved or cobbled street surfaces.


This is pretty much exactly what it looks like and the insane thing is people at the last minute deciding to run and climbing the fence mid "running" so they don't have the right kind of head start. Granted I think the entire thing is insane...but fascinating.

I was right next to the fence. Imagine people just SMASHING against you to try and see, I was worried they'd push the fence right over. A little too close for my comfort level for sure. You can't see the bulls in this picture but the runners race out first followed by the bulls down this narrow street.

You think Disney is crowded, there was not a room to be found in this town, it was at the height of the festival and of course it was a spontaneous decision to just go and check it out. I think there were 9 of us at that point and we found one room just large enough to store all our backpacks. We stayed up all night as we had nowhere to sleep and got out of town right after the bullfight. I am glad I experienced it though if for no other reason than it led me to San Sebastian to recover and that was truly a magical place that I really really hope to get back to someday.

It gave me a big laugh-I think there a quite a few folks who have been thwarted in their attempt at a Le Cellier Reservation who might not think its funny though...in my opinion-laughter is some of the best medicine...

I couldn't agree more!

 

[Flossbolna]

Hmm...I was wondering if there is any of that running for rides craziness in DLP...I can't picture it...

Japan is so well done...lovely...great store...(really, really great store...)

I like to think of myself as a pleasant, agreeable person-and I have seldom sent something back to the kitchen...I couldn't really justify sending my dinner back...it wasn't bad...it just wasn't very good nor what I was expecting...(In my head...I was picturing my friend who grew up in France-she would have sent it back in a heart beat...I can just hear her in my mind..."This is not Bouillabaisse...what are you trying to do...you would not serve this in France...take it away..." of course she would have said all of this in rapid fire perfect French...my French while passable is neither perfect or rapid fire...

I think I selected something too ambitious-Chefs is know for doing certain things well...and I should have stuck to one of them...the creme brulee was quite good though...

Don't worry, at DLP crowds disperse quite equally over the park: Discoveryland for Space Mountain, Frontierland for Big Thunder Mountain and Fantasyland for Dumbo. WDS is another story: everyone lines up for Crush's Coaster - which is cute, but not as spectacular as the lines make you believe. Don't think you need to add WDS just for that ride!!!

Oh and btw - I came up with a ride that you can easily miss at DLP: Star Tours. It's the same as in WDW, but in French.

 

[Lady Lallie]

Yes, I worked at the Crisis Stabilization Unit for almost two years and then I went to a Foster Care Agency. It's hard work, burns you out really quickly.

Marc works at a place that has residential facilities for kids (they have two programs specifically for Asperger kids)and a day treatment school that students just get bussed too. He's the overnight supervisor. He's been there six years which is amazing to me. He did move over from days after two years because it is really exhausting work.

 

[jordanyosh]

Awww...Jordan...you old softy...Yep...it was pretty amazing...

Yep. I'm a softy for sure. Old..that's debatable..

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Hey Triple P!! I hope your having a fab weekend so far!

I know you said you wanted to do something special with the picture of hatter from Jedi Training!

Well, I DISigned it a little bit and came up with...




I hope you like it!! Of course, I would be willing to make changes to it!

 

[tiggrbaby]

Hey Triple P!! I hope your having a fab weekend so far!

I know you said you wanted to do something special with the picture of hatter from Jedi Training!

Well, I DISigned it a little bit and came up with...




I hope you like it!! Of course, I would be willing to make changes to it!

That is awesome!

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Oh my gosh, I love that!

 

[KathyRN137]

We've never eaten at LeCellier either.....

Oh good...you can start a new club with Scrappie and me...The "We've never eaten in Le Cellier club"... We need a motto and some tshirts...

Well, make up an extra t-shirt for me!

(Although I will be rectifying the situation in about four weeks!)


Kathy

 

[KathyRN137]

This was crowded, intense and just a bit nerve wracking...we were just carried along on a mass of people...I actually picked up my tall 7 year old because I was a little nervous for his safety...while I believe that most of the crowd had good intentions I saw a couple of grown men who I think might have sold their mothers to procure a quick fastpass/ride...

Yikes! Scary... I can feel your tension.
Glad it was worth it, though, and how awesome you got to meet the two TS friends immediately after!

CHANNELING THE FORCE

AND "so you want a be a Jedi, young one"-looking right at David-(-who has his yellow I want to be a Jedi shirt on) - Well today you shall have your chance...(Thanks Jenny...)

So I'm thinking...OMG-he got picked...this is awesome...and then OMG...he got picked...I hope he's ok...will he be ok? He doesn't knew these "Jedi" grownups and he can get nervous and he's not sure what he's doing and I was praying and nervous and hoping that everything would go well...


So hard to let them fight their own battles, literally and figuratively...

Ok- so this moment has now taken on epic proportions to Hatter and I- symbolic implications...not only is it awesome and incredibly cute and a major Disney moment to have Rabbit up there learning to fight the "Dark" side...but we're picturing those people who were so negative about him and his abilities when he was first diagnosed and seeing this as being symbolic of all of those people who had such little faith in my son...



Rabbit is up there with his comrades and doing great...and now Darth Vader shows up...this is big time...will Rabbit choke-it would be understandable...but NO-he aces it...he has his routine...and Vader is going down...(and in my mind anyone who lacked faith in his ability to be everything he is-is going down too...) and I'm tearing up and Hatter looks like he is going to absolutely burst with pride...as does Alice with a huge smile on her face...

My little guy just defeated Darth Vader and struck a blow for the light side of the force...

I WILL remember this moment for the rest of my life...

My son, the Jedi defeated Darth Vader...

It really doesn't get much better that this.

Yay! Yay! Yay! A PERFECT Disney moment!! Patricia, I'm so thrilled for him, and for you!

Great story!


Kathy

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

I never thought about water that way but oh, it makes sense! I can think of several examples of kids I know where this is true. My nephew who is on the spectrum (and got kicked out twice though his was for behavioral issues/impulse control...he couldn't verbalize what he wanted so acted out) excels in the water. As does another nephew with entirely different issues (epilepsy).

It's pretty hard to remain calm when no one around you is getting you or what you need... I hope both of you nephews are in a better place now...

Water is such an awesome medium and can have a healing impact on so many different conditions-(assuming that the person involved likes water...most people do...but there are some that don't...


The AR guy was wonderful to watch, I am looking forward to this season for that part if nothing else.

I'm going to have to catch it too...




Yes, I saw the bulls run in Pamplona, Spain, right after I graduated from college on a summer backpacking trip. The bull run is just...wild. I can't even think of how to describe it. It's over in what seemed like all of 5 seconds as the runners and bulls raced by but the intensity of those 5 seconds is truly something that stays with you.

As does the horror and tragedy of a true bullfight.

Yes I can imagine that experiencing the bulls run-that would have a lasting impact...I don't think I could watch a bullfight...I try to have an open mind that different cultures have their own traditions and do things in different ways...so I hopefully am not judging this..and I know that there is supposed to be a lot of honor and tradition wrapped up in in it...I just know my limits and I really don't think I could ever handle watching a Spanish bullfight...


The Running of the Bulls (in Spanish encierro, from the verb encerrar, to lock/shut up, to pen)is a practice that involves running in front of bulls that have been let loose on a course of a sectioned-off subset of a town's streets. The most famous running of the bulls is that of the nine-day festival of San Fermín in Pamplona, although they are held in towns and villages across Spain, Portugal, and in some cities in Mexico[3] and southern France, during the summer. Unlike bullfights, which are performed by professionals, anyone may participate in an encierro.

The purpose of this event is the transport of the bulls from the off-site corrals where they had spent the night, to the bullring where they would be killed in the evening. Youngsters would jump among them to show off their bravado.

Spanish lore says the true origin began in Northeastern Spain during the early 14th century. While transporting cattle in order to sell at the market, men would attempt to speed the process by hurrying their cattle using tactics of fear and excitement. After years of this practice, the transportation and hurrying began to turn into a competition, as younger adults would attempt to race in front of the bulls and make it safe in the pen prior to the bulls. When the popularity of this practice increased and was noticed more and more by the expanding population of Spanish cities, a tradition was created and stands to this day.

Injuries are common to the participants who may be gored or trampled and to the bulls, whose hooves grip poorly on the paved or cobbled street surfaces.


This is pretty much exactly what it looks like and the insane thing is people at the last minute deciding to run and climbing the fence mid "running" so they don't have the right kind of head start. Granted I think the entire thing is insane...but fascinating.

I was right next to the fence. Imagine people just SMASHING against you to try and see, I was worried they'd push the fence right over. A little too close for my comfort level for sure. You can't see the bulls in this picture but the runners race out first followed by the bulls down this narrow street.

You think Disney is crowded, there was not a room to be found in this town, it was at the height of the festival and of course it was a spontaneous decision to just go and check it out. I think there were 9 of us at that point and we found one room just large enough to store all our backpacks. We stayed up all night as we had nowhere to sleep and got out of town right after the bullfight. I am glad I experienced it though if for no other reason than it led me to San Sebastian to recover and that was truly a magical place that I really really hope to get back to someday.

Thanks for this-I love all this cultural/historic information...I groove on it-love to learn...

Don't worry, at DLP crowds disperse quite equally over the park: Discoveryland for Space Mountain, Frontierland for Big Thunder Mountain and Fantasyland for Dumbo. WDS is another story: everyone lines up for Crush's Coaster - which is cute, but not as spectacular as the lines make you believe. Don't think you need to add WDS just for that ride!!!

Oh and btw - I came up with a ride that you can easily miss at DLP: Star Tours. It's the same as in WDW, but in French.

That's great Floss...in the whole of DLP there is one ride we can skip...very comforting... (I'm just kidding...and we will be skipping the Studios...I think the best way for me to go...is to prioritize the things we have to do...their BTMRR-really interests me as does their Fantasyland based on your photos...so I'll probably make up lists of Have to do...would like to do...and if I have to miss I live...

btw-we have narrowed our search for an appt. down in Paris-and will be putting a down payment down this week...so it's really real......

Yes, I worked at the Crisis Stabilization Unit for almost two years and then I went to a Foster Care Agency. It's hard work, burns you out really quickly.

Marc works at a place that has residential facilities for kids (they have two programs specifically for Asperger kids)and a day treatment school that students just get bussed too. He's the overnight supervisor. He's been there six years which is amazing to me. He did move over from days after two years because it is really exhausting work.

Wow-my hat is off to both of you...That is really tough work...I think that for your own sanity as well as being able to be fresh to do the work...I can understand needing to move around...

Give Marc an extra hug because he is doing tough work that not many people could do......btw...Foster Care is a pretty tough gig for you too...

Yep. I'm a softy for sure. Old..that's debatable..

I wasn't insinuating that you were old in the least... as David would tell you...it's just an expression...btw haven't you read that 40 is like the new 30 and 50 is like the new 35 or something like that...(seriously...there have been pieces written about how today's ages all correspond to younger than in the past so your like really 28 or something...

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Hey Triple P!! I hope your having a fab weekend so far!

I know you said you wanted to do something special with the picture of hatter from Jedi Training!

Well, I DISigned it a little bit and came up with...




I hope you like it!! Of course, I would be willing to make changes to it!

O.M.G.-I love it......Thank you soooooo much.... That was so kind of you... I'll pm you to figure out how I can use it...hmmm....my sig...tshirts, mugs, holiday cards, something to give to the neighbors.... oh my I'm thinking the list is endless....

That is awesome!

Yes, yes it is...

Oh my gosh, I love that!

Me too!...

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Well, make up an extra t-shirt for me!

(Although I will be rectifying the situation in about four weeks!)


Kathy

We'd be happy to make you a tshirt-but I can't believe that you have never been to Le Cellier either...wow-there are more of us than I realised......I'm glad that you got ressies this time...Group hug...one of us is getting to go...

Yikes! Scary... I can feel your tension.
Glad it was worth it, though, and how awesome you got to meet the two TS friends immediately after!


Yay! Yay! Yay! A PERFECT Disney moment!! Patricia, I'm so thrilled for him, and for you!

Great story!


Kathy

Yeah-just thinking about me and Alice who tend to be naturally anxious and Rabbit who is not a big fan of unstructured crazy crowds...I'm impressed we all held it together......yeah for us...

Yes Jedi Academy- that was truly a perfect Disney moment...

 

[eandesmom]

It's pretty hard to remain calm when no one around you is getting you or what you need... I hope both of you nephews are in a better place now...

Yes I can imagine that experiencing the bulls run-that would have a lasting impact...I don't think I could watch a bullfight...I try to have an open mind that different cultures have their own traditions and do things in different ways...so I hopefully am not judging this..and I know that there is supposed to be a lot of honor and tradition wrapped up in in it...I just know my limits and I really don't think I could ever handle watching a Spanish bullfight...

They are, thanks!

I'd skip it, really. There are modified ones that aren't as bad but the real thing?

btw-we have narrowed our search for an appt. down in Paris-and will be putting a down payment down this week...so it's really real......

exciting!!!!!

We'd be happy to make you a tshirt-but I can't believe that you have never been to Le Cellier either...wow-there are more of us than I realised......I'm glad that you got ressies this time...Group hug...one of us is getting to go...

I'll make a new one for Kathy that says

"Look! I finally GOT the reservation!"

Someday the rest of us can wear that one.