CSE-- Pg. 74 SATAN'S HAMMER, Ch.18, pg.160 "Goodnight Sweetheart" epilogue

[jedijill]

Happy Anniversary and congrats on seeing the twins again!

Jill in CO

 

[MHSweb79]

Just de-lurking to say I can totally relate to the coke/ ice story. Just last Friday I went to Dairy Queen to get DH an ice-cream cake for Father’s Day. The cashier asked me if I’d like anything written on it and I started to tell her, but she cut me off and gave me a slip of paper to write it down. “But it’s really easy!” I said, starting to tell her again but she said no, they had to have it written down because they’ve had too many mistakes and want to make sure they get it right. So I took the pen and deliberately wrote:

DAD’S
CAKE

And handed it to her. So she kind of laughed and gave it to someone to take out back, and a minute later it returns with the words:

DADS
CAKE

So I WROTE DOWN the TWO WORDS I wanted, and they still screwed it up.

(For those of you not grammatically-obsessed, they missed the possessive apostrophe. This is the kind of thing that makes me grind my teeth at night. Don’t get me started on “its” and “it’s.” I like kittens.)

I would just like to add that I'm enjoying this TR, as always, and as much as I like to see photos of the folks in question, I do like long stretched of text as I'm usually sneaking peaks at the DIS during work hours, and I'm less likely to get busted if I'm not looking at a giant picture of Dumbo or Cinderella's castle.

 

[laura74]

as much as I like to see photos of the folks in question, I do like long stretched of text as I'm usually sneaking peaks at the DIS during work hours, and I'm less likely to get busted if I'm not looking at a giant picture of Dumbo or Cinderella's castle.

Ditto.

 

[Thumper_Man's Wife]

Still around, still reading...unfortunately life got in the way. You know, trying to hold down the fort when all you really want is to read in peace is so not fair! OK...off to catch up. Hope I didn't miss anything good...

 

[nebo]

Just de-lurking to say I can totally relate to the coke/ ice story. Just last Friday I went to Dairy Queen to get DH an ice-cream cake for Father’s Day. The cashier asked me if I’d like anything written on it and I started to tell her, but she cut me off and gave me a slip of paper to write it down. “But it’s really easy!” I said, starting to tell her again but she said no, they had to have it written down because they’ve had too many mistakes and want to make sure they get it right. So I took the pen and deliberately wrote:

DAD’S
CAKE

And handed it to her. So she kind of laughed and gave it to someone to take out back, and a minute later it returns with the words:

DADS
CAKE

So I WROTE DOWN the TWO WORDS I wanted, and they still screwed it up.

(For those of you not grammatically-obsessed, they missed the possessive apostrophe. This is the kind of thing that makes me grind my teeth at night. Don’t get me started on “its” and “it’s.” I like kittens.)

I would just like to add that I'm enjoying this TR, as always, and as much as I like to see photos of the folks in question, I do like long stretched of text as I'm usually sneaking peaks at the DIS during work hours, and I'm less likely to get busted if I'm not looking at a giant picture of Dumbo or Cinderella's castle.

Can I assume the upcoming video of the Magic Kingdom Welcome Show is not going to work, either?
Go ahead,,, crank up the speakers at work,,,,show them what you really care about,,,, 'Good morning, good morning,,,"


Yes,,, an amazing weekend,,, it's been a tough thing for us to take for a long time,,,,but finally it's all worked out,, so yes,,, our grandkid totoal is 5. My puter is throwing up again,,,, only one quote came through.
Sandy,,, I will put A bridge too far on the Netflix list.

Oh,,, and I just found out Saturday night,,,, neither of the twins have ever been to Disney,,,, even though they lived in Georgia,,,,,, hmmm.

 

[nebo]

I'll bet some others would enjoy the honeymoon pic of you molesting Nebo too...

I'll have to dig out that old photo and see if nebo can scan it and put it in photobucket.

Posted by Monica:

Quote:
Originally Posted by smidgy

I'll have to dig out that old photo and see if nebo can scan it and put it in photobucket.



Thanks I needed that!


Monica,,, do you get the feeling that Diane's mind might have been drifting as she was reading and then posting that? I get the feeling she was a tad confused.

 

[nebo]

Ok Honey,, here's your anniversary present,,, I know how badly you wanted to show them off after all these years.

This first one is Todd center,,, Travis on the left and Dylan on the right

Now the obligatory group shot,, Jackson,,, who has just found out that he has two older brothers,, is down center.

or

In case your're wondering,,, yeah,,, I did the redneck souveneir photo trick just now,,,, I was able to get the Facebook pics back up ,,,, and took pictures with my crappy Kodak,, and sent them into Photobucket.
Hey,,, it's only a 7 mega Pixel camera,,, so not much place to argue,,,, you know?

So,,, um,, guess that's it,,,, ta da!

One more thing I have to say,,,,,
yes,,, this was awkward the other night,,, but I was so surprised at how down to earth,,,, both kids seem to be.
No attitudes,, just friendly, into school sports,,, both also working,,, heck,, I want to bring them with in August somehow.

 

[nowellsl]

Jackson sure does look like his older brothers It's great that they got to meet and will hopefully go on to have lots of visits together in the future. Taking them to Disney sounds like a GREAT time!

 

[monymony3471]

Monica,,, do you get the feeling that Diane's mind might have been drifting as she was reading and then posting that? I get the feeling she was a tad confused.

I was laughing at the thought of you trying to do all that a phone call or two to me, and then you go and post the redneck version, made it all funnier!

I laughed harder the second time.


Oh and that number "1" above your head is a message from me waiting to be answered .

 

[laura74]

What a good looking family!

 

[Sandy Mouse]

Now the obligatory group shot,, Jackson,,, who has just found out that he has two older brothers,, is down center.

They look a lot like you, Nebo.

You know, all you had to do was, while on facebook, right clilck on each picture to save it to you computer.

 

[margymas]

Ok Honey,, here's your anniversary present,,, I know how badly you wanted to show them off after all these years.

This first one is Todd center,,, Travis on the left and Dylan on the right

Now the obligatory group shot,, Jackson,,, who has just found out that he has two older brothers,, is down center.

or

What a blessing! They are fine looking young men. I know you have missed out on a lot of years, but you have your (and their) whole lives ahead of you. Go ahead and dote on them. And Smidgy, you are hereby entitled to give them smoochy kisses just like you would do with a little kid. You're grandma! Have at it!

 

[Backstage_Gal]

Nebo and Smidgy,

You know we all NEED to hear the story about how they were lost and finally found again, don't you? They are practically part of your Dis family.

Do I hear a second?

 

[monymony3471]

Nebo and Smidgy,

You know we all NEED to hear the story about how they were lost and finally found again, don't you? They are practically part of your Dis family.

Do I hear a second?

I second that, but was shy in asking................

 

[Backstage_Gal]

I second that, but was shy in asking................

well, of course only if they want to share

 

[smidgy]

sorry,guys, just like we keep the story of our divorce private, this is todd's private life. all I can say is it was a teenage pregnancy situation (obviously, todd is 33) and things didn't go well. but Oils well that ends well!

and God definitely answers prayers!!!!!

 

[Sandy Mouse]

sorry,guys, just like we keep the story of our divorce private, this is todd's private life. all I can say is it was a teenage pregnancy situation (obviously, todd is 33) and things didn't go well. but Oils well that ends well!

and God definitely answers prayers!!!!!

Yes, He does. And what a happy outcome. Congrats!

 

[pkondz]

Still trying desperately to catch up to everything and everyone... but I'm gonna start with this quote...

Nebo,,, I can't believe you remember all that stuff I told you, you really are an INCREDIBLY good listener, any woman would be thrilled to have you as a best friend partner with your listening skills, and,,,, Smidgy doesn't know how lucky she is!

... and this response...

 

[jedijill]

sorry,guys, just like we keep the story of our divorce private, this is todd's private life. all I can say is it was a teenage pregnancy situation (obviously, todd is 33) and things didn't go well. but Oils well that ends well!

and God definitely answers prayers!!!!!

I'm so happy things worked out for you guys!

Jill in CO

 

[pkondz]

Definitions:
Yellow Jacket (n), a yellow and black striped insect from the wasp and hornet family that nests in the ground. Extremely annoying if it comes in close contact with a painful sting when angered.

I hate it when they come in close contact with a sting. The closer they get the more worried I get.

Kinda how I felt when we flew into Chicago.

Active during early afternoon to late afternoon, often found near water.

Annoying… and found near water…

Wasn’t that you?

Should be avoided at all costs,,,

Yup. Definitely you.

see Amway Salesman, Jehovah's Witness or Cubs fan.

That’s our Nebo. Trying to make friends with as many people as possible while alienating them at the same time…

I am willing to bet, that a trip report chapter has never, ever, been named that before in the history of the Dis!

Just ‘cause something hasn’t been done… doesn’t mean it should.

I am also sure that the meaning is now clear to you all.
The closest I can get, is a Fear of Wasps.

Fear of specs… small droplets may get in your eyes, or may be toxic and get on your skin, so…
Fear of spheres… not really, but it rhymes, so…
Fear of sphinxes… I was going to go with something else that starts with sphin… but thought it would be rude… um…. Don’t really know what stopped me.
Fear of spectres… Maxwell Smart phobia… younger generation, look it up. Unless you were paying attention during the movie.
Fear of speakers… I’ll leave it as an exercise whether it’s people speakers or personal speakers.

Ok, I’ll stop now.

And I'm not talking about the White Anglo Saxon Protestants ones, although those can be scary too.

See alienation comment above.

We are going to start tonight's episode with a bit of making up,

And that’s hard to do.

and besides,, making up sects. is the best.

Why does everyone think I’m going to jump on this? That’s not the crass sort of thing I stoop to. I’m above that sort of thing, really.

So when it comes to making up sects, I’d prefer to remain on top. I don’t want to get tied up with silly innuendo and verbally spanked for my efforts.

I’m going to shut up now before I really get myself in trouble.

Ouch,,, that even hurt me!

You’re hurt! We’re just innocent bystanders here! We have to read this stuff!

The disturbing part, is that nobody is even asking for photos, and we are 5 chapters in!

There’s a reason. We’re all afraid you’ll post… no… I’m not going to say it. It’s udderly inconceivable that anyone would want to see that again.

Must be because most readers are repeat readers, and seen all the pics from the other reports,, not many newbody's here, right?

Ain’t nobody here but us chickens.

Yeah, that must be it. I can talk myself into anything.

Really? Hadn’t noticed.

So let's go back to Epcot for a moment.

Yay! Nebo just invited us all to Epcot… and as far as I can tell… on his dime!!!

But I'm the one that usually holds the camera,,, and I'm noticing lately,,, she's not that interested in taking my pictue either.

Well, sure. She’s seen you already.

Not a bad pic of you. And real men like you and me have ‘staches. Right?

Oh, and 70s porn stars, of course.

Umm…

Forget that last part.

I believe this is the Off Kilter band in the back ground : thankfully they left their Kilters, on.

All this time and I never thought of that line?

Gack!

We also now have a picture that was supposed to be posted when I doubled the post of the stupid desk:
this is right after checking in, with I think the decorative rugs on our bed covers;

Very nice. You know you’re in a classy establishment when they put rugs on the beds.

Which brings us to back to Epcot with both of us exposing ourselves to a complete stranger in front of the Epcot Fountain.

Oh, God! This is going to be worse than the cow pic!!!!

A couple walked by and I asked them If they'd take our picture.

"No thanks."

I like that they said ‘thanks’ too. Not just no. It’s like you were offering them a free camera with every picture taken.

“Would you like a free camera? All you gotta do is take one pic of the two of us, exposing ourselves.”

“No thanks.”

Who doesen't take somebody's picture when asked to?

Well, I’m thinking of just saying, “No thanks” just to see people’s reactions.

You think I'm getting a little bit of an inferiority complex about having my picture taken by now?

I can see that. But it matches up nicely with the opinion everyone else already has of you.

So that works.

Have yu ever noticed that when you give the camera to a passerby to take your picture,,, the first thing they do is,,,,

anybody?

Actually, the first thing I thought was: Look at the camera and figure out how it works. But that’s just me, I guess.

yes,,, that's right,,even though you are standing right where you want to be, and hand them the camera right where you want THEM to be, They will immediately turn into photographer extraordinaire and immediately take about 5 steps back, to make sure they have now included everything they can possibley fit in the frame, the topiary, the fountain, Spaceship Earth, The Lincoln Memorial and Uranus.

That’s true. I handed my camera (reluctantly) to someone to take a pic of me and DD15… and I got the entire world... with us cut off in the corner. Of course.

Notice I’m restraining myself and not commenting on the unfortunately named planet.
Sometimes I’ll bend over backwards in order to just let things alone.

Actually, nice pic. IMHO.

By the way,,, this pile of dirty, smelly laundry in the corner?
After ten days there,,, you get the second opportunity to see me standing in front of it,, arms spread to the ceiling, yelling,,,
"It's ALIVE!"

We have the ever-expanding plastic bag… but I hear ya.

I probably would have taken shot after shot of this couple in the Designated Smoking Area smoking like there was no tomorrow,,, or maybe they were smoking that way because of this one guy GLARING at them the whole time.

And you know that they were thinking something like, “We can too smoke here. It’s a DSA! So there!”

Back to Monday, late morning at the Dig Site.

Monday. Late mornin’, I can dig it.

About 11:30, I gave my order to the waitress, and Smidgy went up to order our lunches and get pop for the mugs.

Totally missed this the first time (rushed) I read the chapter. I too have ordered DW to get me my meal…


Once.

Yes,, I'm weird that way,, sometimes I like a cold milk with a meal.

Great. Just one more thing we have in common. This is getting a little weird.

I don't know anymore,, is milk good for you or not? It was when I was a kid,,, but so was Wonder White Bread back then,,, remember? "Building young bodies 12 ways!"

Oh, it’s probably not good for you. I’m pretty sure that scientists will keep changing things around and nixing other things until they finally get it right and we’re all dead.

And,, for the record,,, I don't like wheat,,, my first choice of bread is still Wonder,,, plain old, everyday,, WHITE bread!

Um… you do know that white bread is made with white flour… which is made from wheat?

White bread can also have yummy stuff in it like chlorine dioxide, potassium bromated, ammonium carbonate, alum, chalk and sorbitan mono-saturate.

Get the impression that I don’t eat white bread yet?

Well you’d be wrong. Give me a PBJ on white, any day. White dinner rolls? Mmmm… with real butter of course, not that make believe margarine stuff.

At this rate, I should’ve died a few years back… so I must be immune.

We are not what you would call close to Siestas, or Smidgy would have made another trip back,,, but now it was also getting busy there, so she made her own decisions for me.

That’s what wives do. They make decisions for their hopelessly clueless husbands.

They now sell what they call,, "Hot Dog Sliders", and I am not making this up.
Are they aware what the connotation "slider" canotes?

Sure, we do that up here all the time. There was one day back in ’78 when there wasn’t enough snow, but other than that.

Canotes?

Canoe typo.

Sounds like an indigineous nationality of people living near the Arctic Circle.

or Winnipeg

See? Told ya.

What these were , were shorty weiners,, but bigger than cocktail weenies,, on miniature buns. No, they weren't a regular hot dog cut in half,, they were made that way.
Why? Beats the snot out of me.

That’s called ‘fine dining’. A hot dog is barbaric. Low class. Un-refined. But a hot dog slider[/]… well, doesn’t that evoke images of caviar and well dressed gentle-folk sipping tea at the polo match?

With mustard stains, of course.

Our first trip here we got a basket of the best fries I have ever, ever had I think in my life,,, and tha's saying something!

Must admit. I do not equate Disney with “best fries”. Best ambiance, yes. (Think popcorn on main street, for example) But best fries? No.

Before I get flamed here, yes there are some really good things to eat at Disney, but I wouldn’t say my main reason for going is the fries. That’s usually one area where I’m disappointed.

The trip after that and they were gone for good,, just your regular old fries,,,

That… bites.

and now none of them come with a meal, you get a bag of chips instead. The counter service meal also always comes with a desert, which was cole slaw.
Or maybe it was a dessert.
Or maybe the side was cole slaw,, and the dessert was the bag of chips.
Or maybe the chips were the desert,,,,,

If you were in the middle of a dessert, would you have chips or slaw with you?

Even the chips were crap,,, Disney's very own brand,, and a Kettle type chip instead of a real, oily type potato chip.

I like trying different kinds of chips and I like Kettle chips. Every time I see something really weird in a chip bag, I’ll try it.

I might not like it, but I’ll try it. Heck Old Dutch (the Canadian part) is based in Winnipeg, and you never know what you’ll find on the shelves.

This bag actually scared me,, I was afraid I might cut open my cheeks and gums these babies were so hard and sharp, kind of like eating roofing shingles only with less flavor.

mmm… roofing shingles chips.

I was making decent progress in my book though.
Descent progress in my book.

I’m down with that.

Spoiler alert!
The third book is the weakest one in the series.

Agreed. It’s like the author gave up and … oh, don’t want to ruin it.

Probably already did.

So,,, a year from now,, how many little baby girls do you think are going to be named Katniss?
I don't believe you'll see a big spike though in the names, Peeta or Haymitch.

I don’t know. It’d be a hard name to live up to, wouldn’t it?

This can be a real hassle, because unlike BLT, you can't fill it yourself, you have to hand it to the teller/clerk/waitress/waiter/castmember/cook/bartender and hair dresser.....
and they are not allowed to rinse them out for you,,,you have to go and do that somewhere first and have the mug all ready to go before you hand it over to her.

Kind of takes the convenience out of it, that’s for sure.

But Smidgy is a very complicated creature in her own rights, remember,,

I’m not so sure that Smidgy, or all women for that matter, are complicated creatures. I’m inclined to think that men are just that simple minded.

Or maybe that’s just me.

And no, it doesn't mean the ice here are cheap, floozy type ice, ready to meet a new mug. Not at all.
Those ice cubes are found in the Casitas!

The tramps! You see them all the time too. Melting on the corners, with their come-shiver looks.

She handed her mug over and said, "Coke, easy ice please."

I probably would’ve asked if she meant “easy on the ice?”… is it really that big a stretch?

"Coke,, but only fill the glass half way with ice."

CM nodded, but with a small, quizzical shrug of the shoulders and went to work.

She filled the mug halfway with ice,, then added the Coke to make it an even, right on the money half way full mug of pop, and handed it back to her.

Well, Smidgy got exactly what she asked for. If I was quick enough, I might’ve done it just as a joke.

As I said,,, this person on the food/refill mug side of Siestas is almost always really busy,,,why in the world would anybody stand in line waiting and waiting and only want it half filled?

Just half thirsty.

She dumped the entire mug out and started from scratch again!

I honestly don’t know if I could’ve contained myself at this point. I really don’t know.

All she had to do was fill the rest of it with Coke and be done with it, but no,,, she needed to start from scratch to get it right.

It’s like a puzzle.
You have a 20oz glass.
You put in enough ice to half fill the glass.
You then pour in enough coke so the glass is half full.
How many more ounces of coke do you need so the glass is full of coke but only half full of ice?

Answer: If you’re a Disney CM your head explodes.

The girl put the mug back in front of Diane, but Diane was looking more at where the girl just dumped the whole thing out before she started over again from.

I can see that. But I probably would’ve tried to be helpful.

Look at the dump area.
Look at the CM
Look back at the dump area.
Back at the CM
The dump area
The CM

Shake head in disbelief… walk off.

that lightbulb went off, nickel dropped in, circuit was completed and she turned a bright red.

Always nice to get an education where the only expense is your pride.

Not long after,, something ocurred to me,, and just as I was opening my mouth to say,, "Hey,,, No Yellow Jackets today,",,,,
I heard the buzzing!

Jinxed it!

At this point I still wasn't too worried,,, after all, this a big pool,, what are the chances that she'll take up nest building right by us?

Slim and none. Unless you’re a Yellow jacket magnet…

In the past, I have often used the phrase, "Hey, what can I say, I'm a chick magnet", just to get under Smidgy's skin once in a while, but usuallly at Disney, the truth is I'm more a kid magnet.

Okay, fine. Kid magnet. Have it your way.

Remember back in Oil's Well that Ends Well, the water balloon toss Smidgy and I took part in?
Still one of the more shining moments in my Disney "let's get silly" trips. I've never had something work out that well before.

And still one of my favourite Nebo TR moments.

Sorry Smidgy.

Well, this Yellow Jacket is setting up the same thing, forming two teams, handing out big wet balloons.
But she's doing it right over me,,and I mean "Over me". Leaning across my lawn chair and my legs to hand someone a water balloon. I was beyond being a chick magnet,, I was more of the "Invisible Man!"

What? Right over you? What would she have said if either she or a rugrat dropped one on you?

“Oh, sorry. Didn’t see you while I was straining to reach across you.”

I was honestly, just sitting there reading my book,,, trying to ignore her yelling and buzzing in my ear,, when she actually stumbled on the foot end of my lounger.

I hate when people read over my shoulder.

Everybody needs there own pet Yellow Jacket.

Well… given a choice. I’d prefer to visit mine down in Disney.

But then she kept getting closer again, I don't know if she was trying to get us to play too,,, or maybe just get the heck out of the way,,, but there really was more room just over a bit to the right.

No, no, no. It’s a DYA. Designated yellow-jacket area. Used to be a DSA but people traded smoking for annoying.

No, she was attracted to me allright, just like the rest of them. I must have loooked so sexy lying there clutching my hardcover Mockingbird book to my chest in my pale Illinois white skin that she couldn't help herself!

HEY,, where's everybody going?

<crickets> <crickets> <crickets>

I’m back. But it’s under protest.

After filling up our mugs again with pop for mixers,,,,
NO ICE NO ICE NO ICE

Noise? Too much noise? Here’s your drinks with lots of ice.

You’re welcome.

Sorry about the noise.

But I had just checked two days ago,,,, and the menu had just been updated with new prices as of last week or so,,, Bacon Cheeseburger,,,, or Mushroom Swill burger,,, which will also work,,,,,,, 11.95.

Shoot. I don’t remember. How much was it again, before? Something like $17 wasn’t it?

Ok,,, that's more like it,,, I'm salivating now, thinking about it,,,,YEAH BABY,,,,, WE ARE COMING!

mmmm… loves me a good (and I mean good) burger.

Key kids,,, a fun chapter to do, really,,,

And to attack… I mean, enjoy.

Hope you got some laughs out of it though, and "she who must not be disturbed" made a huge contribution.

later,,, neeb

Thanks for the chapter! :