Celebrating 20 years at WDW - Bonus features, A few posts from May, Updated 9/11

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

I am sorry that day 0 starts with a score of 0 for your mood. Rain is a pita. Take it from a person who lives in UK.

How cool you have a jacuzzi app!

That was great you and Fran worked as a team and your mood lifted. A problem shared....

The next day sounds a bit more promising. It's cute you and Telsa get exclusive time together. I love it when cats arch their back when you pet them. Parade across your path whilst you offer them affection.

Oh my that rush hour. I bet you don't miss that bumper to bumper play in the morning. Great you build in extra time.

Was that rest room haunted by Myrtle from Harry Potter...

I am sure it's a very profitable scam to take drinks of people through security and charge them the Earth for the same drink on the other side. The house always wins in that casino.

Lunch looks good. Great idea to add Reeces Pieces. I do that with gummy bears or skittles ( skittles the candy not the game of skittles they are a little more difficult to chew )

Look forward to reading more.

 

[ljcrochet]

Great start to your trip.

 

[dhorner233]

Great start! Nothing like a trip to DW to cheer you up! You make flying look like fun. I'm flying to John Wayne next month and am not excited about it.

 

[franandaj]

I am sorry that day 0 starts with a score of 0 for your mood. Rain is a pita. Take it from a person who lives in UK.

From what Corinna said, I don't think I want to know much about rain in the UK!

How cool you have a jacuzzi app!

That was one of the upgrades from redoing the pool. Both our "control systems" for the pool and jacuzzi are app based. I can start the heater from anywhere with an internet signal. In fact my pool heater is off right now to save gas, but I'll turn it in two days before we get home so the pool is ready for us to swim laps.

That was great you and Fran worked as a team and your mood lifted. A problem shared....

Teamwork makes things better.

The next day sounds a bit more promising. It's cute you and Telsa get exclusive time together. I love it when cats arch their back when you pet them. Parade across your path whilst you offer them affection.

The only thing I don't like is when he gets all happy and goes all in with his claws on my shoes!

Oh my that rush hour. I bet you don't miss that bumper to bumper play in the morning. Great you build in extra time.

Not one bit! I'm usually laying in bed while all that goes on!

Was that rest room haunted by Myrtle from Harry Potter...

I am sure it's a very profitable scam to take drinks of people through security and charge them the Earth for the same drink on the other side. The house always wins in that casino.

The house ALWAYS wins when it comes to casinos.

Lunch looks good. Great idea to add Reeces Pieces. I do that with gummy bears or skittles ( skittles the candy not the game of skittles they are a little more difficult to chew )

Not familiar with the game of skittles....

Look forward to reading more.

It may be a while! I work on it while Fran naps, but I've also been going out solo while she sleeps...

Great start to your trip.

Thanks! It was a very unusual set of circumstances for us!

Great start! Nothing like a trip to DW to cheer you up! You make flying look like fun. I'm flying to John Wayne next month and am not excited about it.

It doesn't hurt that we aren't crammed into seats in cattle class, plus we they keep filling your wine glass, that helps too!

 

[dolphingirl47]

From what Corinna said, I don't think I want to know much about rain in the UK!

The whole of the UK is not that bad. It is just that we live in one of the wettest places in the UK. Our home town does have other charms though.

Corinna

 

[PrincessInOz]

What a great trip down memory lane.
I loved seeing all the pictures of you and Fran over the years.

Hey! I recognise that picture of you and Fran with the band.

I really really hate gross toilets.


Have a great trip.

 

[Pinkocto]

Loved the introduction and all the great photos!!!

Too bad the day before was not the best, glad Fran helped

Ugh about the traffic.

I think I told you about my potty dogs. Mom came down to visit and she shut the door in their cute faces. I told her they wanted their potty pets! She finally got into the groove after a few days

 

[pkondz]

Day 0

me say day-o

I woke up today in a crappy mood.

But.. but... but... You're going on vacation!

It was raining.

Isn't this a good thing?
You keep telling me about bathing restrictions.

I turned on the app on my phone for the Jacuzzi and started heating it up.

Cool! Pretty handy. (when it works.)
How long does it take to heat up?

When it’s raining out, the pilot light on your gas heater won’t start. So much for a warm wake up.

Whoops!
But... that's really weird. You'd think it'd be protected from the elements.

Why WAS I in such a state? Perhaps it was the fact that I had never played a concert as poorly as I had the day before.

I doubt it was as bad as you think.

You see, she takes pictures of items, she writes up the descriptions, sets prices, etc. That’s her job. Once the thing sells, it’s in my court. I have to find the boxes pack it up, print the label and take it to the shipper.

Teamwork.

Through our teamwork, she had already brightened my mood, somewhat.

Good!

By the time we got home, I was actually feeling pretty good about things again.

Even better.

I loaded my scooter inside the car,

That sounds like a big job.
How heavy is that thing?

Mom got home from her birding class

Birding class? What kind of birding? As in learning to recognize and spot them?

Who the heck am I and how did I get to this situation of preparedness?

I don't know! Who are you???

My little Tesla loves this time of day.

For just a second, I thought you were referring to a car.

Tesla is the #1 potty cat, and he likes it when he is the only one. He will stay there as long as I remain seated and petting him. The moment I stand up, or another cat interferes on his territory, he’s out of there. We enjoyed our middle of the morning snuggles, especially since I knew it was the last one for about 10 days.

Piper's like that.
Whoever gets up first, goes to the bathroom and she's there to lick your hand while having her paw held.

Once we were both dressed, we did the normal last minute packing stuff and though we planned to leave at 6:30AM, the clock said 6:19AM and we were both ready to walk out the door? How did we get here?????? This is not the travel life that I know!

WHO ARE YOU?!?!?

Then this is where we hit the snag.

Crap. I knew it was too good to last.

So guess what happened once we got on the freeway.

Ugh. Hate that.

I’m not sure that I visited the litter box after that 4AM occasion,

You have a way with words, lady.

“I’m almost done” she called out.

She did? Weird. I'm more used to dead silence in bathrooms.

I walked into the accessible restroom and noticed that there was toilet paper floating in there, so I thought, “well maybe they just didn’t flush it!” and I pressed the lever. I couldn’t run out of that bathroom fast enough. I have never seen a toilet overflow that quickly! It gushed over the edge and proceeded to soak the entire floor of the restroom! Luckily I was already on my way out the door to the bus that was waiting.

1. gross.
2. That poor lady in the next stall!

Cute pic. And I see you're not flying economy again.

So after losing multiple hands, I decided to get started on the TR.

Yay!

They brought us some trays of warmed nuts.

Nice touch. The warming part, I mean.

They brought lunch which consisted of a filet, lobster mac and cheese, caprese salad, and romaine salad with goat cheese.

Whoa. Nice meal. The best I typically get is a sandwich.

The worst part of the meal was the filet

Well... not surprising I suppose.

She had some Recees pieces from the overpriced convenience store which she put on top of hers.

Fancy Fran.
That's her new name.

After lunch, I showed Fran the pictures and read her the trip report. She wanted me to add that it’s not just myself that has been given restrictions. She has been restraining from buying Theatre Tickets. Several years ago, we were practically attending a show every month. Now we are only going to really special ones, once or twice a year.

I love that she made you do that.

She went back to sleep after this.

Sure. She can rest easy now that she's gotten you to clear her name.

And then I just kicked back and wrote this report sipping on some wine. White first, but evidently there were lots of folks who liked white wine because they ran out and then I had some red. Who cares? I’m on vacation!

Ya got that right!

ETA: Disclaimer, I stole the chapter title from @pkondz

And I'm totally okay with that.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Despite your Day 0 starting out so foul - I think that is the least adventurous I've ever seen your travel day or your before travel day to be! I hope that means you are in for a great trip (even if it is your last for a while until you finally get all you stuff out of your old place and get it ready for renting!)

You fly American usually right? I am not a happy person with how American changed their flights recently! I'm having to fly United in January because how bad the times ended up being.

 

[ACDSNY]

Popping in, I still have to catch up though.

 

[rentayenta]

Pedicures sound lovely.

I love my purse. That color!

Loving the FB photos.

 

[orangecats2]

I'm here! Thanks for the bat signal, I didn't know you had started. Nice trip down memory lane.
So what are you going to do with all your DVC points if you're not going? You're not (gasp) selling are you? I hope to rent two studio rooms from you for September 2018 if you'll let me. We want to go with friends and a two bedroom is too many points. Hoping to stay at Beach Club and go during F&W.

 

[franandaj]

The whole of the UK is not that bad. It is just that we live in one of the wettest places in the UK. Our home town does have other charms though.

Corinna

Huh. I did not know that. I'm sure your live in a charming part of the UK.

What a great trip down memory lane.
I loved seeing all the pictures of you and Fran over the years.

And Thank you!

Hey! I recognise that picture of you and Fran with the band.

I thought you might!

I really really hate gross toilets.

Who doesn't? At least it was only filled with water. I would have gone running had I seen anything else.

Have a great trip.

Thank you!

Loved the introduction and all the great photos!!!

Thank you Pam!

Too bad the day before was not the best, glad Fran helped

I don't know why I was in such a funk. Fran has "jumped in" on this trip and that has made it fantastic!

Ugh about the traffic.

Welcome to Southern California.

I think I told you about my potty dogs. Mom came down to visit and she shut the door in their cute faces. I told her they wanted their potty pets! She finally got into the groove after a few days

No you didnt! That's so funny!. Gotta love animals!

 

[franandaj]

me say day-o

"Me say day-zero", just doesn't have the same ring to it.

But.. but... but... You're going on vacation!

I know what's the matter?????

Isn't this a good thing?
You keep telling me about bathing restrictions.

Well see, first off, I'm pretty sure it was less than a .1 of a % of rain, so not even a dent. But there's this other thing, we want the rain to come, but we don't want it to disrupt our daily lives. And if you've ever been on a freeway in Southern California you'd see how badly drivers handle such conditions. Plus no one has clothes or gear for the rain and it's just a hassle for everyone!

On a rainy day, my choice of activities is to stay home, watch it fall in the pool, put on something good on TV, bake stuff, drink hot liquids and cozy up with the kitties.

Cool! Pretty handy. (when it works.)
How long does it take to heat up?

It heats 1°F every 5 minutes.

Whoops!
But... that's really weird. You'd think it'd be protected from the elements.

You know I think building a cover over the heater was one of the things that was supposed to happen in the pool remodel.

I doubt it was as bad as you think.

Well of course not, but in the Alison standard of things, it was my worst performance in years. I don't normally make mistakes, and if I do they are small ones, not like getting lost or coming in early on a solo.

Teamwork.

Good!

Even better.

It's about time.

That sounds like a big job.
How heavy is that thing?

Oh no, not at all. Hopefully you're not reading this at work. I can get it in the car in less than two minutes, if necessary. No one piece weighs over 25 pounds, so it's very convenient.

Birding class? What kind of birding? As in learning to recognize and spot them?

I have no idea what she does at these classes, but she's been doing this for at least 10 years now, she started back at the old house (where I grew up). She has bird feeders in the yard and she'll sit with binoculars (even though the yard isn't that big) and keep track of what birds visit and how many of each kind she sees. Then she goes online and enters the data, it somehow keeps track of the population of wild birds.
She also goes out on weekend trips where they go walking and looking for birds in various interesting locations around the Bay Area and Central Valley.
I suppose in class folks compare notes of their sightings, and discuss what they might see on upcoming "field trips".

I don't know! Who are you???

For just a second, I thought you were referring to a car.

Tesla

Piper's like that.
Whoever gets up first, goes to the bathroom and she's there to lick your hand while having her paw held.

It seems a lot of pets like the potty.

WHO ARE YOU?!?!?

Well actually I'm the one who is always ready to go. The question is what happened to Fran and who is this person who has replaced her?

Crap. I knew it was too good to last.

Ugh. Hate that.

Welcome to Southern California.

You have a way with words, lady.

What? . Doesn't everyone refer to it as the litter box?

She did? Weird. I'm more used to dead silence in bathrooms.

I did find it a little odd, I'm guessing I wasn't the first person to enter while she was in there.

1. gross.
2. That poor lady in the next stall!

Well she was "uphill" I just hope the drain wasn't clogged. I didn't wait around to find out!

Cute pic. And I see you're not flying economy again.

Other than the Southwest flight home from New Orleans, I don't remember the last time we flew economy besides Seattle and a quick trip to the Bay Area. The one upside to all the money we spend is we get a LOT of frequent flyer miles. Besides who needs a savings account!

Nice touch. The warming part, I mean.

I never used to eat nuts before we started flying American.

Whoa. Nice meal. The best I typically get is a sandwich.

Well, not flying coach has its advantages. But I certainly wouldn't pay for it.

Well... not surprising I suppose.

Yeah I was commenting to her that a cut like a skirt steak might hold up better, and be tastier.

Fancy Fran.
That's her new name.

That's funny!

I love that she made you do that.

Well she didn't want anyone to think I was the only one suffering.

Sure. She can rest easy now that she's gotten you to clear her name.

Ya got that right!

And now we're on the downhill side....

And I'm totally okay with that.

Thank you.

 

[pkondz]

"Me say day-zero", just doesn't have the same ring to it.

Daylight come and me wan' go nowhere.


Yeah. Not as good.

But there's this other thing, we want the rain to come, but we don't want it to disrupt our daily lives.

That's true the world over.

And if you've ever been on a freeway in Southern California you'd see how badly drivers handle such conditions.

I wonder....
There's a well known urban legend up here.
Goes something like this:


There's a freak snowstorm in California. Highway patrol close down all the freeways. A car pulls up on the shoulder, passing a long line of stuck motorists.
The annoyed cop knocks on the window. "Hey, buddy! Can't you see the road's closed? There's an inch of snow covering for God's sake! If you go out there, you'll never make it."
The motorist replies "I'm Canadian."
The trouper says "Oh! You're from Canada? Yeah, you know how to drive in this. Go right ahead."

Plus no one has clothes or gear for the rain and it's just a hassle for everyone!

Mind. Boggled.

On a rainy day, my choice of activities is to stay home, watch it fall in the pool, put on something good on TV, bake stuff, drink hot liquids and cozy up with the kitties.

Well... sure. That sounds wonderful.

It heats 1°F every 5 minutes.

So if you haven't used it for a while... it's what... 75? 80?

You know I think building a cover over the heater was one of the things that was supposed to happen in the pool remodel.

Might want to get on that.


No. Wait.
If it only rains once every six years, it's probably not worth the expense.

Oh no, not at all. Hopefully you're not reading this at work.

Of course I am.


And you wouldn't believe how long I've been here.

I can get it in the car in less than two minutes, if necessary. No one piece weighs over 25 pounds, so it's very convenient.

Ah! It breaks down! I'll check out the vid later.

I have no idea what she does at these classes, but she's been doing this for at least 10 years now,

Huh. Dedicated.

She has bird feeders in the yard and she'll sit with binoculars (even though the yard isn't that big) and keep track of what birds visit and how many of each kind she sees. Then she goes online and enters the data, it somehow keeps track of the population of wild birds.

Okay. This fits my picture of a "birder".

She also goes out on weekend trips where they go walking and looking for birds in various interesting locations around the Bay Area and Central Valley.
I suppose in class folks compare notes of their sightings, and discuss what they might see on upcoming "field trips".

Sounds like fun.... if you take the birding part out of the equation.
That was another thing we had in Churchill.
Aside from the whales and the polar bears, we were a big draw for birders too.
I think when the Ross's Gull was spotted there, it made the cover of Time magazine.

Tesla

Car.

Cat.

Cart.

Carp.




I'll stop now.

Well actually I'm the one who is always ready to go. The question is what happened to Fran and who is this person who has replaced her?

Cloning. It's real.

Welcome to Southern California.

And you want me to come there?!?!?

What? . Doesn't everyone refer to it as the litter box?

Only cat people.
Dog people refer to it as "The neighbor's lawn".

I did find it a little odd, I'm guessing I wasn't the first person to enter while she was in there.

That would explain it.

Well she was "uphill" I just hope the drain wasn't clogged. I didn't wait around to find out!

I guess not!

Well, not flying coach has its advantages. But I certainly wouldn't pay for it.

WestJet only has two "classes" and they're not even that.
Economy and Economy "Plus".

But their service makes up for it.

Yeah I was commenting to her that a cut like a skirt steak might hold up better, and be tastier.

I can see that.

 

[dgbg100106]

Great start to the TR, sorry the day did not start well, but it worked itself out and teamwork is always better in getting things done.

Glad to see you made it to the bus and plane! I know you are there now and enjoying WDW.

 

[skier_pete]

We miss our kitties too when we are gone. We got in yesterday and last night (any first night back) it is a struggle because both kitties need full body contact all night to be sure that we are home! Every time we roll over it's onto a cat!

 

[franandaj]

Despite your Day 0 starting out so foul - I think that is the least adventurous I've ever seen your travel day or your before travel day to be! I hope that means you are in for a great trip (even if it is your last for a while until you finally get all you stuff out of your old place and get it ready for renting!)

Yes, it surprised the heck out of me being ready so early and not having a panic attack before leaving.

You fly American usually right? I am not a happy person with how American changed their flights recently! I'm having to fly United in January because how bad the times ended up being.

Yes, we fly American. I have noticed a definite decline in service since the merger with US Airways. They used to serve fresh baked cookies in the last hour of the flight and we haven't had those for years now.

Popping in, I still have to catch up though.

Pedicures sound lovely.

I'm gonna get you in with my gal, she is great.

I'm here! Thanks for the bat signal, I didn't know you had started. Nice trip down memory lane.

So what are you going to do with all your DVC points if you're not going? You're not (gasp) selling are you? I hope to rent two studio rooms from you for September 2018 if you'll let me. We want to go with friends and a two bedroom is too many points. Hoping to stay at Beach Club and go during F&W.

Certainly not selling! Currently we are in a defecit with points. That Bungalow last spring set us back. This will give us a chance to get ahead and not have to borrow. I'll need to work out the points for BCV, technically I'm slated to go every three years and stay at BCV. By 2018, I should have enough points to rent and still be covered for my 2019 stay. I'll take a look at it when I'm ho.e and have time for that kind of figuring.

 

[franandaj]

Daylight come and me wan' go nowhere.


Yeah. Not as good.

I wonder....
There's a well known urban legend up here.
Goes something like this:


There's a freak snowstorm in California. Highway patrol close down all the freeways. A car pulls up on the shoulder, passing a long line of stuck motorists.
The annoyed cop knocks on the window. "Hey, buddy! Can't you see the road's closed? There's an inch of snow covering for God's sake! If you go out there, you'll never make it."
The motorist replies "I'm Canadian."
The trouper says "Oh! You're from Canada? Yeah, you know how to drive in this. Go right ahead."

See now I know that's a Canadian legend because if it were a So Cal legend the officer would have been a A CHP officer. We don't have troopers or troupers.

So if you haven't used it for a while... it's what... 75? 80?

Actually I just checked it and it was 72. I also turn the pool heater back on so it will be warm when we get home.

Might want to get on that.


No. Wait.
If it only rains once every six years, it's probably not worth the expense.

Kinda what I was thinking.

Of course I am.


And you wouldn't believe how long I've been here.

Ah! It breaks down! I'll check out the vid later.

Did you get a chance?

Sounds like fun.... if you take the birding part out of the equation.
That was another thing we had in Churchill.
Aside from the whales and the polar bears, we were a big draw for birders too.
I think when the Ross's Gull was spotted there, it made the cover of Time magazine.

Huh. I guess I missed that one....yeah, that whole birding thing, probably not my idea of a good time.

I'll stop now.

Thank you.

And you want me to come there?!?!?

Well as long as you don't travel at peak times, it's only mildly congested. Like between 2AM and 4AM, on weekdays.

But it's warm year round.

Only cat people.
Dog people refer to it as "The neighbor's lawn".

Somehow it doesn't have the same rin to it.

WestJet only has two "classes" and they're not even that.
Economy and Economy "Plus".

But their service makes up for it.

Huh. I think we'd go for the plus as well.

Great start to the TR, sorry the day did not start well, but it worked itself out and teamwork is always better in getting things done.

It was nice that the day got better cause I was not a happy camper when I woke up.

Glad to see you made it to the bus and plane! I know you are there now and enjoying WDW.

And already it's time to pack for home.

We miss our kitties too when we are gone. We got in yesterday and last night (any first night back) it is a struggle because both kitties need full body contact all night to be sure that we are home! Every time we roll over it's onto a cat!

I'm glad ours aren't that needy, but I expect all the bed cats will be happy to see us tomorrow night.

 

[dgbg100106]

Hope you have a great day in WDW today. Any day at WDW is better than a day in Pittsburgh!