Grumpy's Mom
<font color=deeppink>Some of us prefer to go comma
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2003
- Messages
- 557
Christmas 2003 Cruise. Or, Tales of A Christmas Cruise from a not so superwoman who leaves everything to the last minute.
Day 1 minus 2 days:
It is Thursday, December 18 - our flight to Orlando is at 7:30 p.m. out of Greensboro, NC, 1.5 hours from our home, reservations tonight and tomorrow night at WL, and tickets to Mickeys Very Merry Christmas Party tomorrow night.
It is 3:00 p.m. I guess it is time to stop working, hope the laundry is all done, and stop reading and/or posting to the disboards. We should leave at 4:30 p.m. I guess it is time to pack!
DH has hauled all of the suitcases in from the storage shelves in the garage. Of course, he did that last night, and his is already packed and in the car. Everyone has grabbed theirs and left the largest one for me. There is a pile of shoes growing downstairs just below the loft - they have been tossing them overboard in preparation. I remind DH that we need another suitcase from the garage for the shoes, and then an additional one. What for??? Why, the Christmas tree, lights, ornaments, duct tape, over-the-door holder, extension cords, all the things listed in that email I forwarded to you at your office ---- He shakes his head and starts on the first of a long list of reminders that we need to get going, need to get on the road, need to get out of the house.
I remind everyone for at least the 5th time that it will be in the 40's on Friday night, and they need to make sure they have warm clothes. I realize that the two cotton turtlenecks I had planned my cold weather wardrobe around had not made it into the laundry that DH had done last night. I run and put those in on a 6 minute wash.
Realize I havent had a chance to meet with the college student who lives two doors down about the pets, so while I am busy throwing more shoes overboard from upstairs, I am telephoning to see if she might be home and can come over for a few minutes to meet the puppy and chat. (Like I have time to chat.)
I remember that there were three other things left on my to do list - presents to be wrapped and sent to my family and DHs family, make a deposit at the bank, and gifts to be dropped off at the nail salon, the hair salon, and the principal at the high school. Everything but the checks I had to put in the bank are in one pile in the foyer. They were still sitting there when I got back.
I go to the crafts closet and start pulling out my various bags from Michaels, Target and AC Moore with ornaments, garland, lights, magnetized wreath hanger, suction cup hooks, all those things that will make it on to the Best Tips for Cruising at Christmas List that I know Jim will be working on when we return. Wondering if I can get a few minutes to steal away and try one more time to download the Disney font into my Word program on the computer with the better color printer. I havent made the sign for our cabin door, even though I purchased the magnet paper at the office supply store this morning, and spent 6.5 hours trying to download the font late last night (till 2:30 a.m), and was unsuccessful, but now that I am in a panic, it surely will work!
I fill up the suitcase with all the Christmas stuff, add the walkie-talkies, the battery chargers, cards for the cameras, etc. I know I am forgetting things, but dont really have time to go boot up the other computer that has my own personal list of things to bring.
Stuff my carry on bag with the girls Christmas presents, stocking stuffers, several bags of Christmas candy, some small gifts for the girls to give their new friends onboard, my Passporter (cant forget that, has the birth certificates and all confirmations for private excursions in it, plus directions to the port), camera, etc. Remembered that some of us have medication we need to have, and that it would probably be nice to bring some of those containers, maybe some Tylenol, Motrin, sunscreen, anything else that happens to be in the cabinet in the kitchen, because as a physicians wife, we like to be prepared for those little medical emergencies. Throw those things in the carry-on also. Remembered hair dryer and makeup - but suitcase has been zipped and hauled, and once it gets to the car, there is no going back into it. So those things go in the carry on too.
Allison comes over, the girls introduce her to Mollie. I try to spit out what it is that I need her to do for us while we are gone, and try hard not to think about this 6 month old puppy that we are leaving at home.
Well, we have all the bags packed and zipped and in the car. Everyone grabs their pillows, their coats, camera bag, laptop, carry-ons and we head out the door. One last check to make sure I have the Passporter.
As I am walking from the kitchen to the garage, I realize that my carry-on now weighs close to 50 pounds out comes the candy, the small gifts, my book and magazines. There, I can barely hoist it to my shoulder.
We get in the car and back out of the garage and I start to cry. 3 hours of sleep. Work for clients still not finished (my own arbitrary deadline was to be done by cruise time). House is a mess. My presents didnt get mailed. Didnt even think twice about cards. Stress. The washer is still running with my shirts in it. The girls are upset - what is wrong with Mom? DH tells them I will miss the dog.
We get to the airport. DH drops me, the girls, the 8 suitcases, 4 carry-ons, laptop, camera bag, coats and pillows at the door. We haul everything inside and start checking in. Everything is fine until he gets to my suitcase. It is 8 pounds over. Our hanging bag was too small for all the formal and semi-formal clothing, so I had taken as much of it as I could and put it in the suit section on the top of my suitcase. He tells me I can either write another check (I dont mind spending money on vacation, but not for overweight luggage) or I can readjust the contents of my bags. I move to the side of the line and unzip and start rolling beaded sweaters to put in the zipped shoe compartments of our hanging bag (thank goodness we had that extra suitcase for our shoes). Once I get all of that done, it is time to head towards the security check. I am worried that my younger DD, who has scoliosis and has to wear a back brace, will set off every alarm in the place and try to move ahead of her to warn the security personnel without her hearing me (it will embarrass her). She moves through the line and the check without a hitch. We go to the end of the x-ray machine to gather our things, only to be called back. I ask what the problem is. The girls are looking at me your carry-on bag, Mom. There is apparently a cylindrical metal object about 8 inches long in the bag, and with one end obscured. The bag has to be searched. While I am trying in a hushed tone to tell the security agent that my girls Christmas presents are unwrapped and in the bag and that I really dont want them to see them, out comes the makeup, the hairdryer, the multiple bags from Best Buy, Wet Seal, etc. The girls are sitting there with big grins on their faces and I shew them away. I have no idea what it is that the security agent is after. Ah ha, he says. A flashlight. Must have been left in there from my last Girl Scout campout. He has to take it to show the gentleman who views items at the x-ray machine.
We stop for a couple of bags of cheese crackers and trail mix and a few drinks for the plane. We get on our flight one of those Delta flights operated by some other airline none of us have every heard of, and in a plane so small you have to walk out on the tarmack and then climb the removable stairs to board. We love this flying around the southeast. The flight left on time and was the first uneventful occurrence of my day.
We arrive in Orlando, and I leave DH to deal with the luggage while I go downstairs to get the rental car. I had used a code I got off the Dis Transportation board that was supposed to be for guests of WDW, which we were, staying at WL. But when I made the reservations, I got such a good discount at Budget that I thought surely there would be a problem at the desk. I get downstairs and every single rental desk is empty, except for one. I can see a line of about 75 people of all shapes and sizes with luggage of all shapes and sizes worming its way in and around chairs and the open area. I still cant see the Budget sign, and I know I am getting to the end of the rentals. I hope that pray that this line is not for Budge. Whew- it was for Dollar!! Wholesaling program in the UK, apparently!
Wonder if I should try to find Lynn and Keith, but remember that they are not coming until tomorrow night. I give the young man my internet reservation and wait to see what will happen. He doesnt know how to process this. He gets help from the other budget employee who is enjoying doing nothing and watching the people over at Dollar. They finally get this done, and then he proceeds to try to sell me insurance. I explain to him that we are very well insured. He explains to me that should we or someone else wreck the car, and it has to be fixed, we have to continue to pay the rental fee while it is being fixed. I tell him thanks, but no thanks.
We get into the car, and our 1.5 hour trip to WL begins. Let me just say that I have already dropped Disney a note about how you cant really see the WL exit sign from right underneath the MK archway until you are past it, and then it takes almost a half hour to get yourself turned around to get on that same road again to make sure you make the exit sign this time. We get to WL, get check in and decide we should do something about dinner. It is 10:55 when we go downstairs, I am thinking we can go to Whispering Canyon. No. The only thing that is still open is the cafeteria style place. We get there, and they are closed (it is now 11:00). No place to eat. Have to get back in the car, leave the MK area (since everyplace else will be closed) and head for International Drive. It goes without saying, at this point, that we turned the wrong way on International Drive, and didnt get back to the area where there are restaurants until almost 11:45 - looking for dinner on a Thursday night at 11:45 with two teenage girls. FUN.
We find a Bennigans that is still serving, and have a great dinner. We go back to the WL, wander around the lobby enjoying the gorgeous Christmas decorations and massive tree, and go to bed - 1:30 a.m.
Well, at least we have gotten to Florida before Embarkation.
Day 1 minus 2 days:
It is Thursday, December 18 - our flight to Orlando is at 7:30 p.m. out of Greensboro, NC, 1.5 hours from our home, reservations tonight and tomorrow night at WL, and tickets to Mickeys Very Merry Christmas Party tomorrow night.
It is 3:00 p.m. I guess it is time to stop working, hope the laundry is all done, and stop reading and/or posting to the disboards. We should leave at 4:30 p.m. I guess it is time to pack!
DH has hauled all of the suitcases in from the storage shelves in the garage. Of course, he did that last night, and his is already packed and in the car. Everyone has grabbed theirs and left the largest one for me. There is a pile of shoes growing downstairs just below the loft - they have been tossing them overboard in preparation. I remind DH that we need another suitcase from the garage for the shoes, and then an additional one. What for??? Why, the Christmas tree, lights, ornaments, duct tape, over-the-door holder, extension cords, all the things listed in that email I forwarded to you at your office ---- He shakes his head and starts on the first of a long list of reminders that we need to get going, need to get on the road, need to get out of the house.
I remind everyone for at least the 5th time that it will be in the 40's on Friday night, and they need to make sure they have warm clothes. I realize that the two cotton turtlenecks I had planned my cold weather wardrobe around had not made it into the laundry that DH had done last night. I run and put those in on a 6 minute wash.
Realize I havent had a chance to meet with the college student who lives two doors down about the pets, so while I am busy throwing more shoes overboard from upstairs, I am telephoning to see if she might be home and can come over for a few minutes to meet the puppy and chat. (Like I have time to chat.)
I remember that there were three other things left on my to do list - presents to be wrapped and sent to my family and DHs family, make a deposit at the bank, and gifts to be dropped off at the nail salon, the hair salon, and the principal at the high school. Everything but the checks I had to put in the bank are in one pile in the foyer. They were still sitting there when I got back.
I go to the crafts closet and start pulling out my various bags from Michaels, Target and AC Moore with ornaments, garland, lights, magnetized wreath hanger, suction cup hooks, all those things that will make it on to the Best Tips for Cruising at Christmas List that I know Jim will be working on when we return. Wondering if I can get a few minutes to steal away and try one more time to download the Disney font into my Word program on the computer with the better color printer. I havent made the sign for our cabin door, even though I purchased the magnet paper at the office supply store this morning, and spent 6.5 hours trying to download the font late last night (till 2:30 a.m), and was unsuccessful, but now that I am in a panic, it surely will work!
I fill up the suitcase with all the Christmas stuff, add the walkie-talkies, the battery chargers, cards for the cameras, etc. I know I am forgetting things, but dont really have time to go boot up the other computer that has my own personal list of things to bring.
Stuff my carry on bag with the girls Christmas presents, stocking stuffers, several bags of Christmas candy, some small gifts for the girls to give their new friends onboard, my Passporter (cant forget that, has the birth certificates and all confirmations for private excursions in it, plus directions to the port), camera, etc. Remembered that some of us have medication we need to have, and that it would probably be nice to bring some of those containers, maybe some Tylenol, Motrin, sunscreen, anything else that happens to be in the cabinet in the kitchen, because as a physicians wife, we like to be prepared for those little medical emergencies. Throw those things in the carry-on also. Remembered hair dryer and makeup - but suitcase has been zipped and hauled, and once it gets to the car, there is no going back into it. So those things go in the carry on too.
Allison comes over, the girls introduce her to Mollie. I try to spit out what it is that I need her to do for us while we are gone, and try hard not to think about this 6 month old puppy that we are leaving at home.
Well, we have all the bags packed and zipped and in the car. Everyone grabs their pillows, their coats, camera bag, laptop, carry-ons and we head out the door. One last check to make sure I have the Passporter.
As I am walking from the kitchen to the garage, I realize that my carry-on now weighs close to 50 pounds out comes the candy, the small gifts, my book and magazines. There, I can barely hoist it to my shoulder.
We get in the car and back out of the garage and I start to cry. 3 hours of sleep. Work for clients still not finished (my own arbitrary deadline was to be done by cruise time). House is a mess. My presents didnt get mailed. Didnt even think twice about cards. Stress. The washer is still running with my shirts in it. The girls are upset - what is wrong with Mom? DH tells them I will miss the dog.
We get to the airport. DH drops me, the girls, the 8 suitcases, 4 carry-ons, laptop, camera bag, coats and pillows at the door. We haul everything inside and start checking in. Everything is fine until he gets to my suitcase. It is 8 pounds over. Our hanging bag was too small for all the formal and semi-formal clothing, so I had taken as much of it as I could and put it in the suit section on the top of my suitcase. He tells me I can either write another check (I dont mind spending money on vacation, but not for overweight luggage) or I can readjust the contents of my bags. I move to the side of the line and unzip and start rolling beaded sweaters to put in the zipped shoe compartments of our hanging bag (thank goodness we had that extra suitcase for our shoes). Once I get all of that done, it is time to head towards the security check. I am worried that my younger DD, who has scoliosis and has to wear a back brace, will set off every alarm in the place and try to move ahead of her to warn the security personnel without her hearing me (it will embarrass her). She moves through the line and the check without a hitch. We go to the end of the x-ray machine to gather our things, only to be called back. I ask what the problem is. The girls are looking at me your carry-on bag, Mom. There is apparently a cylindrical metal object about 8 inches long in the bag, and with one end obscured. The bag has to be searched. While I am trying in a hushed tone to tell the security agent that my girls Christmas presents are unwrapped and in the bag and that I really dont want them to see them, out comes the makeup, the hairdryer, the multiple bags from Best Buy, Wet Seal, etc. The girls are sitting there with big grins on their faces and I shew them away. I have no idea what it is that the security agent is after. Ah ha, he says. A flashlight. Must have been left in there from my last Girl Scout campout. He has to take it to show the gentleman who views items at the x-ray machine.
We stop for a couple of bags of cheese crackers and trail mix and a few drinks for the plane. We get on our flight one of those Delta flights operated by some other airline none of us have every heard of, and in a plane so small you have to walk out on the tarmack and then climb the removable stairs to board. We love this flying around the southeast. The flight left on time and was the first uneventful occurrence of my day.
We arrive in Orlando, and I leave DH to deal with the luggage while I go downstairs to get the rental car. I had used a code I got off the Dis Transportation board that was supposed to be for guests of WDW, which we were, staying at WL. But when I made the reservations, I got such a good discount at Budget that I thought surely there would be a problem at the desk. I get downstairs and every single rental desk is empty, except for one. I can see a line of about 75 people of all shapes and sizes with luggage of all shapes and sizes worming its way in and around chairs and the open area. I still cant see the Budget sign, and I know I am getting to the end of the rentals. I hope that pray that this line is not for Budge. Whew- it was for Dollar!! Wholesaling program in the UK, apparently!
Wonder if I should try to find Lynn and Keith, but remember that they are not coming until tomorrow night. I give the young man my internet reservation and wait to see what will happen. He doesnt know how to process this. He gets help from the other budget employee who is enjoying doing nothing and watching the people over at Dollar. They finally get this done, and then he proceeds to try to sell me insurance. I explain to him that we are very well insured. He explains to me that should we or someone else wreck the car, and it has to be fixed, we have to continue to pay the rental fee while it is being fixed. I tell him thanks, but no thanks.
We get into the car, and our 1.5 hour trip to WL begins. Let me just say that I have already dropped Disney a note about how you cant really see the WL exit sign from right underneath the MK archway until you are past it, and then it takes almost a half hour to get yourself turned around to get on that same road again to make sure you make the exit sign this time. We get to WL, get check in and decide we should do something about dinner. It is 10:55 when we go downstairs, I am thinking we can go to Whispering Canyon. No. The only thing that is still open is the cafeteria style place. We get there, and they are closed (it is now 11:00). No place to eat. Have to get back in the car, leave the MK area (since everyplace else will be closed) and head for International Drive. It goes without saying, at this point, that we turned the wrong way on International Drive, and didnt get back to the area where there are restaurants until almost 11:45 - looking for dinner on a Thursday night at 11:45 with two teenage girls. FUN.
We find a Bennigans that is still serving, and have a great dinner. We go back to the WL, wander around the lobby enjoying the gorgeous Christmas decorations and massive tree, and go to bed - 1:30 a.m.
Well, at least we have gotten to Florida before Embarkation.
