*Chocolate and Pixie Dust* - An August 2008 TR- 8/29 pg 6: Sort of an update

[Beana9802]

Ohhh, campy elegant??? That sounds like too much fun!!!

This exchange is reminding me of my friend's "Party Dress Party" that she's planning.

And since everyone's been mentioning how old they were in 1980, I'll join in. I was 3 years old in 1980.

Well, I was born 14days before 1980, so 1980 was a year of milestones...first step, first word...

How is your daughter's latin paper coming along?

Yeah, Singin'....how's the paper? How's rehersal? When's the play?!

 

[scottny]

I was 11 in 1980

 

[Tanya90210]

I was 11 in 1980

awww.. your just a youngin

 

[rentayenta]

I agree! I didn't learn one way to save money, only other ways to spend it

Me too.

 

[Tanya90210]

Me too.

it's on now here...

 

[stagemomx3]

Watching Disney on a Dime now.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Disney on a Dime sucked!

I agree! I didn't learn one way to save money, only other ways to spend it

Yes, it did. There was not one money-saving tip on it for an entire hour.

Did anyone else notice that with the exception of the family that stayed at Pop that almost everyone only stayed for a few days -- of course, Disney looks like a great deal if you don't notice they are only staying for TWO nights!!!

Charles watched it with me (guess he was bored) and kept turning to me and saying, "You know ways to save money at Disney. Why are we watching it???" It was pointless -- and that family that stayed at the cabins -- did you notice the mom was always stuck with the baby while the boys and dad did the fun stuff? And she was always cooking meals! What kind of vacation was that for her???

Okay, rant over. Still trying to figure out how it was Disney on a Dime...

 

[stagemomx3]

Yes, it did. There was not one money-saving tip on it for an entire hour.

Did anyone else notice that with the exception of the family that stayed at Pop that almost everyone only stayed for a few days -- of course, Disney looks like a great deal if you don't notice they are only staying for TWO nights!!!

Charles watched it with me (guess he was bored) and kept turning to me and saying, "You know ways to save money at Disney. Why are we watching it???" It was pointless -- and that family that stayed at the cabins -- did you notice the mom was always stuck with the baby while the boys and dad did the fun stuff? And she was always cooking meals! What kind of vacation was that for her???

Okay, rant over. Still trying to figure out how it was Disney on a Dime...

I quite watching it about half way through because there were no money saving tips on it.

 

[2ScottishPrincesses]

In 1980 I was 12.

Jenny if you were 12 in 1980 then that would mean you've just turned 40 ....which would mean I'm just about to turn 40 in July ....and I can assure you girlfriend that just AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN .

 

[MRYPPNS]

Disney on a Dime sucked!

I watch those Disney shows like I "read" Hollywood magazines....I just look at the pretty pictures. I don't know if anyone else caught it but I swear the "expert" said that some "counter service" restaurants are all you care to eat. Oh really? and where is that restaurant ? Just because the buffet is on a counter doesn't make it counter service!

Hey Jen when are we going to VA via your mini TR?

 

[SingingMom]

How is your daughter's latin paper coming along?

Rough draft is due Wednesday... so far one page and "works cited" (new buzz word for bibliography page, for those of you who didn't go to school in the past 5 years. ) She has two more pages, but at least it's "coming along"!

8/9-8/16 then I have to miraculously get ready for Las Vegas, which is 8/24- 8/31

The joys of being a teacher and having summers off!

Well, I was born 14days before 1980, so 1980 was a year of milestones...first step, first word...

Yeah, Singin'....how's the paper? How's rehersal? When's the play?!

ooo you people really know how to rub it in. I'm OLD. Just say it. SingingMom IS OLD!

Rehearsals are killing all of us! Poor thing went to bed last night with a terrible headache, body aches, and chills. The whole cast is exhausted. Rehearsal both days this weekend 10am to 8pm. Show is Thur, Fri, and Sat.

I was 11 in 1980

Well, at least that's a LITTLE closer to my 17 in 1980! (actually I was 18 that August!)

 

[Charleston Princess]

I watch those Disney shows like I "read" Hollywood magazines....I just look at the pretty pictures. I don't know if anyone else caught it but I swear the "expert" said that some "counter service" restaurants are all you care to eat. Oh really? and where is that restaurant ? Just because the buffet is on a counter doesn't make it counter service!

Hey Jen when are we going to VA via your mini TR?

I quite watching it about half way through because there were no money saving tips on it.

I thought that was what the "expert" said, too, but then I thought maybe I had misheard what he said because I was only half listening to it. I couldn't believe that they would have made that mistake.

I thought about turning it off, but, like Heidi, I was getting a fix by just watching all the images of WDW.

Did you also notice that they hadn't updated the stroller prices?

 

[Beana9802]

Rough draft is due Wednesday... so far one page and "works cited" (new buzz word for bibliography page, for those of you who didn't go to school in the past 5 years. ) She has two more pages, but at least it's "coming along"!

Does it have to be in Latin? That would he H-e-double hockey sticks

The joys of being a teacher and having summers off!

Ahh yes, but I am a teacher that doesn't have summers off....Can't afford that yet....

ooo you people really know how to rub it in. I'm OLD. Just say it. SingingMom IS OLD!

Rehearsals are killing all of us! Poor thing went to bed last night with a terrible headache, body aches, and chills. The whole cast is exhausted. Rehearsal both days this weekend 10am to 8pm. Show is Thur, Fri, and Sat.

Holy Toledo! That poor group of kids! That's out of control!

Jenn-how's it goin' Any ExBf updates?!

 

[Native NYer]

A little background info:

My friend Denise (D), who also happens to teach 4th grade at the same school, had begun preparations for the second annual Colonial Day. The 4th grade transforms our small elementary school into a pre-revolutionary war settlement, complete with tavern, one room school house, and plantation. Each student becomes an important part of life in the new colony and researches their part thoroughly. They make dioramas, write research papers, create props, a set, and a costume. The 4th graders learn colonial dances and songs. Those that know how to play an instrument become the colonial band. Parents and other classes visit this colonial village, learning all about life in the 1700s.

We have a buddy system at our school. Each kindergartner is paired with a 4th grade buddy. Throughout the year, this buddy serves as a big brother/sister to the newest members of our community. They participate in community building and curricular projects together. We've made apple crisp from apples picked at the orchard, baked pumpkin pie for the school before Thanskgiving, and had our 3rd Annual Thanksgiving Lunch. Since my class is buddies with the 4th grade, we get to participate a little more closely in Colonial Day. We also have an extra incentive to participate.

My class LOVES their buddies and are so eager to participate in Colonial Day, as well as the 4th grade dance program. They exchange birthday and holiday gifts, leave special presents in each other's cubbies and lockers. It's a truly special relationship that is mutually beneficial.

As D went over the plans with the other 4th grade teacher, she realized that she needed some props. The Wigmaker would definitely need some wig curlers. Authentic props were needed for the one room school house that will be built (yes, built from wood) in the hallway. What about the Milliner? And the Apothocary? Saddlemaker? She was on a mission. And I joined her on her quest for all things Colonial.

Leaving Morning (Does anyone know that picture book?):
Monday, April 21

Leaving morning was right! Normal people probably fly to Willamsburg, Virginia. Or maybe they just hop in their cars and drive. Some, I would imagine, take the bus. But not us. No bus for us. No plane or car either. My car would stay parked securely in the garage. And D's car would be busy transporting her husband to work. So it was Amtrak!

Like typical New Yorkers (at least typical in our circle of friends), we didn't plan this trip in advance. Why would we? We were busy with Spirit Week, the kindergarten play (I've been covered in Benjamin Moore Rocky Mountain Sky as I painted lotus flowers and the Nile River), and trying to prepare for the end of a hectic school year. Our school's energy level is always on 10. We rarely come down. It starts on 10 on the first day of school, and slowly elevates to about 12 come December. But by Spring, we're operating at 15, consuming lots of Starbucks iced skim lattes while we work in our classrooms till 7!

So D and I bought our Amtrak tickets on Saturday and we were leaving on Monday We also reserved our hotel room the same day. Talk about cutting it close. We wanted to have most of Monday to tour around, so we opted for the 3 am train, which would arrive in Williamsburg at 11 am. Holy Cannoli! What was I thinking? The hours were insane. My attempts to convince D to take a later train or fly fell upon deaf ears. I tried to convince her that Penn Station was a nightmare. Did she listen? Nope. As stubborn as I can be, I knew there was no way to win this battle.

So we were leaving at 3 am And our train would leave Wednesday at 4:45 from Virginia, headed for the Big Apple. But we wouldn't arrive in Gotham until 1:50 am Thursday morning

I was barely coherent Saturday due to a late night out on Friday, so no packing would be accomplished then. I couldn't even make it to D's Family Guy Party.

Sunday morning rolled around. I was off with a real estate agent that could have been Tony Soprano's understudy. One apartment was pretty great, and the other was unacceptable. Oscar the Grouch has better living quarters.

After spending the morning in Whitestone and Bayside, I headed for Roosevelt Field Mall to buy trip clothes. Even though I would only be away for 3 days, I needed to have some new items to toss in the suitcase. I got some new clothes, then headed to Target. The travel size aisle was on my agenda, so I stocked up on some necessities. Then it was home to pack.

As I watched tv, DISed, and talked on the phone, I got outfits together some not so colonial outfits. I doubt our forefathers wore Gap jeans and red capris. I packed my toiletries and was ready to go. The only thing left to do was call the car service for the trip from my apartment to Penn Station.

Once that was done, I contemplated going to sleep. I read, listened to music, then finally passed out for an hour.

At 1 am, my alarm screamed. I needed to get up and get showered. It was
the leaving morning. The sun wasn't up and it felt weird getting ready to go somewhere other than a club or a bar at this hour of the morning. I felt like I was sneaking out of my parents house to meet some boy that would only prove to be a disappointment later.

I decided that I should have breakfast while I got ready. Cold pizza from the day before and water was my Wheaties. While I slowly got dressed and ate, I realized that time was not on my side. The phone rang and it was the driver informing me that he was waiting in the driveway. I told him I'd be down in 5 minutes. Well, 5 minutes was more like 15.

Finally, comfortably seated in the back of a black Lincoln, I relaxed and tried to prepare myself for 8 hours of sitting and staring. As we drove through Manhattan, my friend sent me a text that she was already at Penn Station, but decided to wait in the car with her husband. She said there were a lot of unsavory characters lurking around the entrance to the train station.

When I arrived, D got out of her car and her husband walked us through the swarm of late night characters. I assured D that we'd be fine because I would put the months of boxing lessons to use if I needed to

Down we went into the abyss that is Pennsylvania Station, walking past shops and restaurants that wouldn't open again for hours, to the kiosk to get our tickets. Surprisingly, there were lots of other people anxious to get on the Midnight Train to Virginia. We got some Kashi bars, juice, and tea and waited for the track to be announced.

While we waited among the other late night travelers, a strange man mumbled something about the train being on track 8. At first I thought he was a crazy person talking to himself, but I was wrong. In fact, he was a weary Amtrak employee who probably just wanted to get to bed. We headed over to the escalator down to track 8. And into the business class car we went.

Up Next: Oh What A Ride!

 

[Tanya90210]

What an adventure already

 

[Native NYer]

Yes, it did. There was not one money-saving tip on it for an entire hour.

Did anyone else notice that with the exception of the family that stayed at Pop that almost everyone only stayed for a few days -- of course, Disney looks like a great deal if you don't notice they are only staying for TWO nights!!!

Charles watched it with me (guess he was bored) and kept turning to me and saying, "You know ways to save money at Disney. Why are we watching it???" It was pointless -- and that family that stayed at the cabins -- did you notice the mom was always stuck with the baby while the boys and dad did the fun stuff? And she was always cooking meals! What kind of vacation was that for her???

Okay, rant over. Still trying to figure out how it was Disney on a Dime...

That poor mom! Talk about promoting traditional roles for women

It was Disney on lots of Dimes.

I watch those Disney shows like I "read" Hollywood magazines....I just look at the pretty pictures. I don't know if anyone else caught it but I swear the "expert" said that some "counter service" restaurants are all you care to eat. Oh really? and where is that restaurant ? Just because the buffet is on a counter doesn't make it counter service!

Hey Jen when are we going to VA via your mini TR?

I caught that about the counter service restaurants. OMG where do they find these experts?

I started the mini TR.

The joys of being a teacher and having summers off!

I love summer The only thing I do not like is turning another year older

I thought that was what the "expert" said, too, but then I thought maybe I had misheard what he said because I was only half listening to it. I couldn't believe that they would have made that mistake.

I thought about turning it off, but, like Heidi, I was getting a fix by just watching all the images of WDW.

Did you also notice that they hadn't updated the stroller prices?

I couldn't stop watching. I just wanted to see all of the things they chose to do.

They really should update the stroller prices since the increase is significant.

Jenn-how's it goin' Any ExBf updates?!

Spoke to him the yesterday. Or was it Thursday? I've been busy, we couldn't hang this weekend. I had appointments and lunch with John yesterday. And am suppose to go out tonight, but not sure if I'm up to it

 

[Native NYer]

What an adventure already

It was a tiring 3 days.

 

[TarzansKat]

Can't wait to hear more about the trip. Sounds like the train was an adventure.

And, just to join all the cool kids and chime in...

in 1980...

I was 1.

 

[SwansLoveDisney]

Oh my! That is an EARLY train!

I am no good at getting up that early, even if it is for a fun trip.

(I was also 1 year old in 1980.)

 

[TarzansKat]

(I was also 1 year old in 1980.)

Hey, another one! Woo hoo!