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

[Thumper_Man's Wife]

This is the third time I've tried to post this...I hope it works this time!

Finally able to take some time to post to your latest chapter, just in time I see, before you post a new one! Between vacation and then trying to catch up at work, I'm in need of another vacation!

So, here we go...

Saturday, Aug 4

So, having checked in we leave the car out in front and bring just what is necessary to the pool awaiting the cue our room is ready.

I'm sure they would have frowned on you bringing the car inside with you.

As you approach it crossing the Generation Gap bridge, it doesn't look too special at all, and the buildings themselves come acrooss as looking like Cell blocks, since they don't have balconies or external walkways.

I always feel like I'm getting a grand tour with your pictures, especially since we have never stayed onsite anywhere on Disney property.

But inside the grounds, well, now that's a fish of a different color,

Why do I expect a short mustached man to be sticking his head out of an emerald building and telling you to, "Come on in" when you say that?

Unfortunately, the first stop we made was in the gift store,,,, taking my first picture, my camera wouldn't work and I hoped it was just because of dead batteries.


It was.

At least it was only the batteries. My camera was freezing up on me while we were at DL and I was starting to freak on the possibility that I wouldn't be able to take any more pictures or worse, that the pictures I already did take were possibly gone.

I bought a new pack of AA, but they weren't included so I had to buy them again.
(that's right, I did, and I'm going to keep on using it till I'm sure that everone had heard it)

I'm not going to describe each picture, just going to throw them at you and see how many you catch. We started in Nemo section, then worked over to Cars and finally Lion King. Mermaid was still filled with construction equipment and kind of blocked off so we left it out.

I absolutely love those pictures. It reminds me of what DCA looked like in some places. Especially Carsland.

Back at the Hippy Dippy Pool I had this feeling that this is more where I belong, and not duking it out with a Turtle Lady at an expensive resort.

Personally I think that duking it out with Turtle lady is over rated and doesn't need a reprive if at all possible, we like Happy Nebo! Plus, I was starting to get irritated with that woman and I wasn't even there!

Not long after we got back, our room was ready so we were off again.

Why am I not surprised?!

And guess what, I have no video or room view pictures,

What?

That's just not right. I demand you go back there right this minute and get a video. How are we supposed to get into the spirit of a Nebo and Smidgy vacation without a personalized room tour?

We did a quick unpack and hurried back down expecting a call any minute now. An hour later we were still waiting.

ANd we were more excited then they were, at last, finally we get to share our happiest place on earth with some one. I kept looking at Jackson and he had a huge smile on his face!

Don't you hate that? We did that a couple years ago with some friends, and I would catch myself looking at them as we walked through the parks anticipating their reactions with this stupid grin on my face.

Unfortunately, want to guess what happens when you don't have much time for a swim?

Code Brown.

Welcome to Disney!

I actually had a completely different smiley in mind for this, but don't want to take the chance of getting banned or dinged for it. I may PM it to you just for kicks.

One thing Diane and I noticed about Jackson is that he is not a demonstrative child; I never see too much of a change of emotion in him, good or bad, and it was kind of disappointing in Disney World.

It's hard when you expect a certain reaction, because its such a special place to share with someone so special.

Two years ago we took him to Kiddieland here near Chicago right before it closed for good, and all he really wanted to do was ride the little boats that went in a circle and ring the bell, everything else pretty much scared him, but now he says he'll go on anything and everything, and i didn't doubt him.

It turned out he meant every word of it, and he's not yet 7.

I wish I had his nerve. I freaked out on a ferris wheel at DCA...

Before we left, they came in our room and I made them each margaritas. I was surprised to see them using the "connecting" room doors, I thought we would just leave them closed the whole time and not set a privacy precedent, but everybody was going in and out until we all left through our door for good.

Why do I feel like this is a set up for something down the road?

But everybody got a kick out of T-Rex, Jackson seemed to love it, and I loved everything but the bill, Smidgy had told them we'd pay for dinner tonight.

We were supposed to do T-Rex the last time we were in the World, and for some reason didn't get to it. I think we have it on our list again this time around. Hopefully we get a chance to do it so I can at least say we did.

I got a burger, Smidgy got a usual type of chicken sandwich, you know, we ordered first to try and set the mood,,,,,,, and Todd and Kimmy got some type of reall food, you know, what they call sometimes, "entrees".

Forgot I taught the kid well. Glad they didn't have a "surf and turf".

When in Disney...and When it's not your money, take advantage where you can!

then we got our big surprise
(baby what a big surprise)

Dun dun dun!

Remember I mentioned that we all left through our door?

Uh huh...See. Told you, you were setting us up for something!

Well, Todd had slid the "deadbolt" chain in his door, no one knows why, probably just because it was there, meaning that you can't get in with just the key, it would open two inches and that's it.

But now it's a Fobidden Room, the keycard alone aintagonna get you inside.

Now that it's late at night, we go in our room , and find out that even though it's unlocked, there's no way to open the inside door from this side. There's no handle, no doorknob, no nuttin, we can open our inside door, but that's as close as we can get. What a brilliant design!

They are locked out!

Now why, when picturing this all in my head, and going through the scene, with Todd trying to get into his room, and not being able to, do I suddenly see the nickel drop in and see him laughing as he tries to explain the dilema as the rest of you sort of watch him with quizzical looks and wonder how many margarita's he really did have when you weren't looking....Sorry, I'm not allowed to write chapters in our TR, My mind starts to run wild.

This is now the beginning of a beautiful friendship between many of us and our telephone.

The beginning? That doesn't sound good...

Call housekeeping and explain it, they connect us to maintenance. We explain it again.

They send up a man.

With a skeleton key!

It was like nobody was listening.
He says he's gotta go back and get another guy who can get us in that has the proper tools.

Why is that not surprising? He's gotta guy...Please tell me he said it in a very rough new york accent so it goes along with the storyline in my head.

Yeah I know I really shouldn't be allowed online after a few drinks. Blame T-Man.

Hour and a half, more calls, Todd is getting hot, this not good. We tried everyting we could think of to get the chain off, but it is very effiecient. Maybe with a stubby Phillips screwdriver,,,,,,

Finally a guy comes up, with the proper tool.

A small envelope.

D'oh...Why didn't anyone else think of that? Screwdrivers are for drinking...Envelopes are for opening doors!

______________________________________________

Got there early enough to get a "ledge/wall" spot right in front of the train station, and when the welcome show started I thoiught I was going to burst.

Hopefully we get a chance to see the welcome show this time around, we have yet to see it, and it seems to magical everytime you talk about it.

I had a good idea how the day should start out not being early entry, and I got them to listen to me at first.

Remember, this is your child, and your childs child. Getting them to listen to you at any time and go along, is a huge thing! Take it where you can get it! Most kids don't listen to their parents!

We not only beat them to Frontierland, the first wave wasn't even really in sight yet.

We found out this trip what it's like to beat everyone to a certain section of the park and what a thrill it really is when that happens.

But for the early morning, it was plenty fast, and no, it's not smooth. Yeah, it beat the crap out of me!

Already this isn't sounding good to me.

I was to find out that the theme for the rest of the trip was that it was extremely difficult to get Jackson to ride with you, or anybody other than his dad, Todd. I even saw many times a disappointed look on Kimmies face when he would turn and say he wanted to do a ride with Todd.

Again...

Well, they wanted to do Big Thunder again, so I suggested further in the back.
But I stopped them from getting in the very last car, "The one in front will give you the same thrills and we may get a double out of it.

THis time we sat right in front of them, and we did get a double. So far I'm two for two on insider knowledge!

Great job Grandpa Nebo!

Smidgy and I went down to our rocking chair to get the mandatory picture in.
Mine didn't come out, so I used a picture of Ponzi ten years from now.

What a handsome man Ponzi has become in such a short time!

We then rode Splash Mountain with Kim being the lone person by themselves.

Poor thing. It almost seems like she was sort of the odd man out on this trip.

But I had Jackson right behind me on the other side, and I kept looking back at him the whole time,he just thought it was the best, and,,,,,,

Of course we had to do it again.

Of course. I'm getting a kick out of the fact that you've been in the park for a while already this morning and you've only rode 2 rides. So glad that at least Jackson was having a grand time.

But , for some reason now, the second trip through the line was exhausting to me, and I didn't like the way I was kind of becoming, which was my heart just wasn't into it.

Uh oh...I don't like the sound of that.

I really hated this mood I got into suddenly though, I thought we'd really be sharing Jackson more, and that he' want to take turns, but also that I just felt so tiiiiiiired.
On the second go-around of Splash, I mostly had my eyes closed and tried to doze.

Right.
Me.
At quarter to ten in the morning.

I really really don't like the sound of that...

We then went over to a enjoy a completely forgettable trip on POTC, because it got stuck near the beginning for 15 minutes which took the fun out of it, especially for Jackson since it got stuck right by the skeletons with the voice constantly, constantly, repeating, "Dead men tell no tales."
That one spot is creepier than anything inside of Haunted Mansion.

Poor Jackson. For that matter, poor everyone in your boat. That couldn't have been fun.

I am going to pull the plug on this right now, it's getting out of hand, and just leave them where they are, Smidgy running for the fastpass machines, me 15 feet behind, like usual, and Jackson, Todd and Kim at the top of the Treehouse.

Again. I feel like we are being set up for something here. I don't like it.

So, c'mon, it'l be fun, we'll have a few laughs!

And then you can all say since this has been built up beyond expectations,,,,,"THAT"S IT?"

I sure hope you are right. I know that we constantly badger each other on these TR's, and we always sound like we are out for blood. I don't want to speak for everyone, but I for one read your TR's for the entertainment value, (The blood is a bonus!...I'm kidding, kidding!) and never want to see or hear a friend in pain or injured, and from the sounds of it, something is definitely not right. I sure hope that all turns out OK.

I can't wait for the next chapter.

 

[pkondz]

So, having checked in we leave the car out in front

Check in, car out....

Okay Mr. Neboyagi, but when do I get my black belt to hold up my pants?

and bring just what is necessary to the pool awaiting the cue our room is ready. It will be a few hours until the family gets here, so after we put our stuff on a table, we decided it was a perfect time to go and check out the Art of Animation resort.

No fair! That's cheating! You have to settle in poolside and then as soon as you do, the inevitable call is supposed to come. You can't just wander around... you're off script!

the buildings themselves come acrooss as looking like Cell blocks, since they don't have balconies or external walkways.

Judge, looking stern: "Has the jury reached a verdict?"
Jury, looking like... well, a jury: "We have your honor, we find the defendant guilty, on all counts."
Judge, looking grim: "I hereby sentence you to the maximum sentence to be served in the AOA penitentiary. Do you have anything you'd like to say?"
Defendant, crying his eyes out: "I'm so happy!!"

taking my first picture, my camera wouldn't work and I hoped it was just because of dead batteries.

It was.

Ha! See, I keep mine charged up all the time.... :

I bought a new pack of AA, but they weren't included so I had to buy them again.
(that's right, I did, and I'm going to keep on using it till I'm sure that everone had heard it)

Oh, we all heard it.

We wish we hadn't...
We wish you wouldn't....

but we know you always will.

OMG, is that why we keep coming back???

That was pretty much it for now, what we really want to do is come back some evening to see the Cars section, it's supposed to look way cool at night, like Radiator Springs.

Cool. And thanks for all the pics. Nice to see Disney hasn't 'lost it'.

But all 3 areas impressed us, I just wish they were all like the other Values with ouside corridors,, ok,,, and not almost all suites, empty nesters have little use for suites.

I too prefer the outside corridors... it reminds me that I'm somewhere warm. ergo: on holidaze.

By the way, yes, you need a card to enter the pool areas, this even includes the Poolside bar, or you can do what we did and just wait till somebody goes through and follow them, or grab it before it totally swings shut, which, come to think of it, doesn't close on it's own, you have to close it manually.

Awesome security! People there must feel very safe. "Don't worry, Selma. The non-selfclosing gate should keep the riff raff out... and if it don't the two foot high fence, surely will."

Heaven forbid some lowly Pop dweller should soil our pristine pool!

I guess I just don't get it.

Back at the Hippy Dippy Pool I had this feeling that this is more where I belong, and not duking it out with a Turtle Lady at an expensive resort.

Aw. But that's the kind of fight we want to read about!

Not long after we got back, our room was ready so we were off again.

Again? Again? Weren't you always a little bit off?

but I have to admit,, not many good views of the lake there, way too many scraggly trees in the way.

Nebo’s Packing List
Tooth brush
Toothpaste
Comb (Ha! Just kidding)
Deodorant
Vikes
Clip clops
Bathing suit
Vikes
Shorts
Shirts
I wrote Vikes already, right?
Underwear (clean, no holes… for the inevitable emergency room visit)
Sunglasses
Did I put down Vikes?
Fuzzy cups
Various little bottles and fixins for Manhattans
Hat
Camera
Pretty sure I didn’t put Vikes down yet
Notebook and pens for the TR
Chainsaw to take care of a ‘little problem’ with the view of the lake.

Oh, and Vikes.

We did a quick unpack and hurried back down expecting a call any minute now.

No, no, no. You already got the call. Sitting by the pool phone calls only work when it’s for a room.

Don’t you read your own TRs?

sheesh

An hour later we were still waiting.

A watched cell never rings. (The whole ‘watched pot never boils’ is so last century. Who watches pots of water anymore? There’s 300 channels of TV, the internet, facebook, twitter, etc, etc, ad infinitum… who the heck’s got time to watch a stupid pot?!?!?)

I kept looking at Jackson and he had a huge smile on his face!

Warm fuzzy time! I’m grinning just reading this.

Unfortunately, want to guess what happens when you don't have much time for a swim?

Code Brown.

Welcome to Disney!

You’re kidding!

One thing Diane and I noticed about Jackson is that he is not a demonstrative child; I never see too much of a change of emotion in him, good or bad, and it was kind of disappointing in Disney World.

But does he talk about it at all? What does he say?

As far as pictures go, keep in mind I'm expecting to have the entire week for them, so no rush, and no need in irritatiting them for better shots, I know how annoying that can be.

Yup. My DMil has the extremely unfortunate habit of snapping ‘family’ shots… whenever we try to eat. We can be together for the whole day and she won’t take a single picture. But put us at the table with food in front of us… <click>…

I have seen way too many pictures of people with food in their mouths.

Before we left, they came in our room and I made them each margaritas.

Jackson, “Make mine a double, grampa!”

I was surprised to see them using the "connecting" room doors, I thought we would just leave them closed the whole time and not set a privacy precedent, but everybody was going in and out until we all left through our door for good.

Well… yeah. It’s the novelty of the thing.
“Look! I can go from their room to ours… without going into the hallway!!!

Oh, the wonder of it all.

The Magic Shoppe is gone, and so is the Magnet store. Hey, these were my favorites there.

When we were staying at POR, after the rest of the fambly was passed out, I’d hop on the boat and go to watch free magic demonstrations. Not only was the magic cool… but the store was cool too. Wasn’t it supposed to look like Houdini’s library, or something?

And of course the balloon was just sitting there like it always is.

As opposed to leaking and plummeting to the ground? Nah. That would never happen…

One extremely disappointing thing though, the burgers and sandwiches used to come with what they called as chips, but were some kind of home made, freeze dried deep fried American potato hash browns,,, whew,,,

Say that fast three times.

Remember when I told you about the new crappy chips you get with a meal basket at Siestas? Real fries no longer come with meals, they have to be ordered separately now? And the name on the blue bag even said Disney.

Well, ditto for T-Rex, all of us that were supposed to get the homemade "chips" got these crappy things instead.

Boy, that sucks. It’s kinda the one thing you can count on, isn’t it? “You want fries with that?” is as American as apple pie, for Pete’s sake! I would think a restaurant that switches from fries to chips has jumped the shark, so to speak.

No, I didn't get to see the actual bag, they were spread out on the plate, but they were the same thing, no mistaking the non-taste.

“Try these chips!”
“I don’t taste anything.”
“Exactly! Nobody will hate them!”
“But doesn’t that mean that nobody will like them?”
“Don’t worry about it…”

The Mayo Clinic couldn't help these tasteless, cut your gums chips.

“CLEAR!” <zot>
“AGAIN! CLEAR!” <zot>

I’m sorry, I tried to save that joke, but it was already toast. Which probably would’ve tasted better.

Rest in pizza, joke.

Soon we were homeward bound.
(oh Peter I worried about you)

Read the book a few times as a kid… never did see the movie.

then we got our big surprise
(baby what a big surprise)

(right before my very eyes)

Remember I mentioned that we all left through our door?
Well, Todd had slid the "deadbolt" chain in his door, no one knows why, probably just because it was there, meaning that you can't get in with just the key, it would open two inches and that's it.

Oh, you can’t get in all right. As soon as you wrote that, I immediately pictured the ‘one-way’ door handles and thought, “Oops”. He must’ve been kicking himself afterwards.

Mother Nature did it for them. Or physics.

I don’t know if I believe in them or not. I mean, claiming that you can see or communicate with the dead can’t really be proven, can it? If someone says that the ghost of Abraham Lincoln likes to watch American Idol and is particularly fond of Golden Girls re-runs, who’s going to prove ‘em wrong? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying there is no validity in it… I’m just saying that it’s a hard thing to prove….

What?

Oh, physics….

Nevermind.

When we left that night to go to dinner, and opened up OUR outside door, the vaccuum pressure created caused the connecting room door to pull inwards the two inches it needed to close.

I keep picturing you closing a hermetically sealed door.

Now that it's late at night, we go in our room , and find out that even though it's unlocked, there's no way to open the inside door from this side. There's no handle, no doorknob, no nuttin, we can open our inside door, but that's as close as we can get. What a brilliant design!

Actually… Don’t you ever get one of those rooms…. When you don’t know the neighbors… and check to make sure that they can’t get in through there?

I know I do.

They send up a man.

With a skeleton key!

It was like nobody was listening.

I am so not surprised. People don’t listen anymore. It’s like the Far Side cartoon:

What Nebo says: “Hi, this is room xxxx. My son and his family are in the adjoining room and earlier tonight we all went out to dinner. Except my son put the deadbolt on his room before we left and came out through the connecting doors and then we all left through our door. I guess when we closed our outside door, the inside connecting doors shut and now we can’t get into their room.”

What the operator hears: “blah blah blah room xxxx. Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah door. Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah door, blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah can’t get into their room.”

Diane and Kim start a game of Yahtzee.

Poor Kim… or is it just you that she slaughters?

Hour and a half, more calls, Todd is getting hot, this not good. We tried everyting we could think of to get the chain off, but it is very effiecient. Maybe with a stubby Phillips screwdriver,,,,,,

Or a stout shoulder…. “Honest! We came home and found it this way! We may sue you for not providing adequate security! If only you had a non-self closing gate or a two foot high fence like the rich folk across the lake.

Finally a guy comes up, with the proper tool.

A small envelope.

???

There is a way of bending the envelope to make it go around the corner and slide the chain out of it's rack. I didn't see this done myself, Todd told me about it.

Took him 30 seconds, that's how secure your deadbolt is in your room should you think about it.

Thank you for totally destroying what little faith I had in my hotel door deadbolt.

But they got in, we all agreed to not touch the connecting doors again and went to bed, between Code Brown and Forbidden Room, not a great start for them.

Well, at least what I thought was going to happen didn’t happen. Or did somebody walk in on someone in the middle of getting changed, later?

Little did I know that it was to be the last good night I would have for the rest of the trip!

You call that a good night? Oh, dear. This is not going to be good, is it.

Hot Fudge Sunday.
Hot Fudge Sundae.

Dun, dun, dun, duuuuuuun.

Couldn’t wait ‘til Tuesday?

It was all I could do to look away from Jackson, and Todd, and Kim, you know how that goes,you want to make sure they are enjoying it, but I also don't want to be committed to the mentally insane hospital either.

Embrace the inevitable, dude.

But I am glad you got to experience that with your family.

Once inside, we zipped right up the stairs to the train station, only problem now is that you cannot help but get that feeling that you are being left behind, especially when you see thousands of people charging down Main Street heading for the biggies.

I don’t care how many people tell me that the train is faster. To me, part of the fun/ambiance/memories is that first walk down Main Street. There’s just no way I could miss that. Maybe on a 2nd visit, but never on the first.

I had no doubt that if this didn't work out well, they would never listen to me the rest of the trip.

You must’ve been sweating! “C’mon train! Move!”

We not only beat them to Frontierland, the first wave wasn't even really in sight yet.

Score!

Smidgy had all our tickets so she went for the Splash fastpasses and we met her at BTMR.

Smidgy went. Too dark for you to be quick? Or it just worked out that way.

We sat way too far up front, but even still, this is the first tiem we've ridden it since the big refurb, and it seemed much faster, especially for first thing in the morning when the grease is still thick and unmelted on the tracks. Later in the day when the sun has melted it down it's faster.

Other than speed, any other changes you might’ve noticed?

I was to find out that the theme for the rest of the trip was that it was extremely difficult to get Jackson to ride with you, or anybody other than his dad, Todd. I even saw many times a disappointed look on Kimmies face when he would turn and say he wanted to do a ride with Todd.

Ah, well. That’s pretty normal isn’t it? For a boy to want to do stuff with his Dad? Especially given that he doesn’t see him that often.

Well, they wanted to do Big Thunder again, so I suggested further in the back.
But I stopped them from getting in the very last car, "The one in front will give you the same thrills and we may get a double out of it.

THis time we sat right in front of them, and we did get a double. So far I'm two for two on insider knowledge!

I do remember that little bit of Nebo brilliance.

Smidgy and I went down to our rocking chair to get the mandatory picture in.
Mine didn't come out, so I used a picture of Ponzi ten years from now.

Sweet! I’m gonna have guns! Lookit those biceps! Don’t mess with me in 10 years!

We then rode Splash Mountain with Kim being the lone person by themselves.

‘lone person by themselves? Does she sometimes go by the name ‘Sybil’?

But , for some reason now, the second trip through the line was exhausting to me, and I didn't like the way I was kind of becoming, which was my heart just wasn't into it.
Sometimes feeling my way through in the dark wears on me, yeah, I really do get tired of banging my groin into a rail, or smacking my arm and shoulder into a wall, or yanking my back outa whack cuz I suddenly stepped down onto stairs I didn't see. Smidgy does her best to help me but only so much you can do, especially with 50 people behind you in a hurry.

That’s too bad, man. I feel for ya.

On the second go-around of Splash, I mostly had my eyes closed and tried to doze.

Yes, that drop is conducive to napping. :

Yes I know you mean the rest of it.

We then went over to a enjoy a completely forgettable trip on POTC, because it got stuck near the beginning for 15 minutes which took the fun out of it, especially for Jackson since it got stuck right by the skeletons with the voice constantly, constantly, repeating, "Dead men tell no tales."
That one spot is creepier than anything inside of Haunted Mansion.

Sounds like you may have used up your luck on BTMRR.

Then to Jungle Cruise, got a so so skipper, she talked too fast actually to be understood,

Again, too bad. A decent skipper makes or breaks that ride… for the adults anyway. I really wonder if the kiddies get as much out of it as the kiddies of 40 odd years ago.

after that Smidgy and I went on a fastpass run to get Space Mountain tiks while they did the Treehouse. That's right, by now there was no way I was climbing stairs unless the theatre was on fire.

That and… it’s boring.

I am going to pull the plug on this right now, it's getting out of hand, and just leave them where they are, Smidgy running for the fastpass machines, me 15 feet behind, like usual, and Jackson, Todd and Kim at the top of the Treehouse.

Uh, oh. You weren’t trying to keep up, were you?

And then you can all say since this has been built up beyond expectations,,,,,"THAT"S IT?"

Somehow… I doubt it.

Thanks for the chapter! Sorry it’s taking me so long to get to them. That should change now at least.

 

[pkondz]

Sigh.....I had a healthy snack of a few apple slices before that fricking bag started calling my name.

This just cracks me up.

I see where you're going with that assumption, or should I say hope Pkondz, I really do. I would like to think that as well. But riddle me this my friend......how many seven year olds do you think are reading this TR? Nope, the old "Poop de doo doo" was aimed at us.

Maybe he's just doing it for posterior.


I mean 'posterity'

Or maybe I don't.

And pratell, I have to say, I got that at first read, but there have been many others that I just didn't and I admit I've googled many a word. You need to give yourself a break on this one......you may use the catchy phrase, but the real question is......do you ever see it spelled that way in your head when you use it?

Maybe I read too much, but I always think "pray tell".

Interesting factoid I learned. Ursula is a huge Icon there. They start making them to scale from the movie in 6" models to start with and then expand them and do some camera work on a stick (don't ask) to get the guest perspective. Well, they found out that Ursula was too well endowed, and the guests couldnt see her face looking up, so they had to do some selective reduction...

Another factoid: the fridges are in the armoire, but the door looks like more drawers and guests get frustrated cause they cant find it

Thanks for that... especially the 'reduction' part. Usually when a movie star has 'work' done in that area, it's in the opposite direction.

Really??? You're going to miss me that much ponzi? I'm flattered...I think.

But of course.

Boy, when I go brain dead I go all the way.

Yes. That's true. We noticed.

Ok, going back to work on the next chapter, actually, it's almost done. And boy, are you all going to hate me when you're done reading it.

There's a good chance that some of your readers are already there.

one of my favorite Saturday night tables came in (finally!) tonight.

Teak! It's teak right? I'm guessing that oak is too common for you and pine just isn't your style.

"WAIT! cut to the end. tell us if he is OK; THEN you can go back and finish the story!".. apparently she doesn't like cliff hangers, either.....

for about a year and a half, I also cleaned house for this family. (now she retired from teaching, so doesn't need me).
one day I was cleaning on my birthday.. there was a balloon and a birthday card, and it said "we love you!" I was like "AW! they LOVE me!!! how sweet!"

that sat. they came in for dinner. the parents told me that it was Kristen's bday this week(I bring out a dessert with a candle and scare all my other customers away with mysinging) me:"really? . mine too! when was was yours?" " wed, oct 14.." me:"holycow! mine too!"

then the nickel dropped in..."um I think I stole your birthday card....."

they all cracked up..(boy, they really MUST love me, sheesh)

As much as I enjoyed the story (and I did! I did!), there's something that stood out.

A few weeks ago we had another DIS TR writer (also a Winnipeger) over for a visit with her daughter and her daughter's boyfriend. Turns out that her daughter and I share the same birthday.

Well, Ruby (my DW for those who didn't know) happens to have an October 14th birthday too.

I'm kinda hanging around hoping Ponzi or Laura gets a post in, but that's ok if they don't, I'm aware some people have a tad more going on in there lives than I do.

Phew! Made it just under the wire!

Pkondz, that smilie reminds me of SideShow Bob!! SideShow Bob is hilarious!!

I thought so too!

That's why I am so happy that at least the Mermaid isn't enclosed, she's still openfaced, and that will feel like home staying there

Oh, so you serve Mermaid openfaced? With mayo I presume?

All this time, I've been doing it wrong.

There are so many good people in this TR and sometimes I think I can convey a little extra care when I respond specifically to folks. Gah, excuse the prior sentiment if it makes you feel queasy, blame it on the hormones!

Bad hormones! Bad! No supper for you! Go sit in the corner!

That takes care of that.

This is the third time I've tried to post this...I hope it works this time!

No it didn't! Try again!

Why do I expect a short mustached man to be sticking his head out of an emerald building and telling you to, "Come on in" when you say that?

I am not short!

What a handsome man Ponzi has become in such a short time!

Thanks! I really....

Hey! Wait a sec... I think I just got insulted!

 

[pkondz]

I'm back baby!

 

[buzz1121]

I'm back baby!

And none too soon!!

 

[smidgy]

Looking forward to the next chapter.. waiting with baited breath... (never totally understood that one.. guess someone that needs an altoid.. i'd say baited breath would be pretty bad!!). ..

Even as a kid when I first heard that expression I used to say, to the point of being annoying, "You mean their breath smelled like nightcrawlers? YEWWW"


ok, boys, at the risk of being annoying....the word is "bated". "bate" means: to lessen the force of; moderate; as in "to bate one's breath".

so if you are waiting with bated breath, you are not breathing as much, like holding your breath.

hey, I gota correct nebo when I can! (you guys know that)

 

[Backstage_Gal]

Even as a kid when I first heard that expression I used to say, to the point of being annoying, "You mean their breath smelled like nightcrawlers? YEWWW"


ok, boys, at the risk of being annoying....the word is "bated". "bate" means: to lessen the force of; moderate; as in "to bate one's breath".

so if you are waiting with bated breath, you are not breathing as much, like holding your breath.

hey, I gota correct nebo when I can! (you guys know that)

Thanks for the education, Smidgy, I also spelled that wrong all my life (well, in my head anyway, I don't know that I ever put "with baited breath" in writing. But now I am edumacated

I also have a tiny offer of education to make. It is not "Code Brown" (although that is certainly easier to understand in a TR). The official code is AFR. Accidental Fecal Release

Now guess what code V means?

 

[smidgy]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2929812&goto=newpost


I also have a tiny offer of education to make. It is not "Code Brown" (although that is certainly easier to understand in a TR). The official code is AFR. Accidental Fecal Release

Now guess what code V means?

I guess the lifeguards have just "dubbed" it code brown. I can not even imagine what a code V would be!!!... uhoh, yes, I just thought of something. yuck!

 

[dwheatl]

Oh, look! A Baby Ruth!

 

[pkondz]

And none too soon!!

Ha! You say , Nebo says

ok, boys, at the risk of being annoying....the word is "bated". "bate" means: to lessen the force of; moderate; as in "to bate one's breath".

so if you are waiting with bated breath, you are not breathing as much, like holding your breath.

hey, I gota correct nebo when I can! (you guys know that)

Now Nebo can abase himself in front of you. (or is that abaise.... jk)

Now guess what code V means?

Aliens have come to share the pool but eventually take over all the loungers and tables.

Can also be used for a man in a Guy Fawkes mask who uses terrorism tactics (water balloons, water cannons, snapping wet towels) to overthrow the yellow jackets.

Oh, look! A Baby Ruth!

Where's Bill Murray when you need him?

 

[nebo]

Whoops, slight miscalculation on today; just gotback from ye doc, all dialated again and can't see. Anyway, the eyes look stable, but my comments wil be limited.

Nebo, so I'm not going to quote your last post but I will respond to it. I hesitate to say I "look foward" to the next chapter because it sounds terrible to write that I anticipate an event that causes you pain. I DO look forward to how you will present said event in written form. You have quite a talent for story telling Nebo!

I get the wit, sarcasm, and snark because it's my "go to" as well, much as I suspect it is for most of us in your TRs. Something sure is the connector that forges the tie that binds. That's part of the reason that I like to post individually sometimes rather than multi-quote. There are so many good people in this TR and sometimes I think I can convey a little extra care when I respond specifically to folks. Gah, excuse the prior sentiment if it makes you feel queasy, blame it on the hormones!

And really, I would love, love for you to have a TR open when little buzz arrives so I am staunchly in the Marita club as far as keeping the TR open goes or heck, any TR you may can open due to an upcoming trip. I promise I won't give a blow by blow account of the delivery!!

buzz, there will probably be a report open,b ut the problem is, we will be down there, I hope, right when you are due.

I never said that nor insinuated that you are "sleaze", a tease...
Maybe.

I can come over and hold your hand while you type that last chapter. If it's ok with Diane.

Wait, I think I have a baseball game to watch. A very important one at that.

Big game today? yeah? Who's playin'?

 

[anut4disney]

Hey, Uncle Shirley is back, did you bring a note from your bartender?

Now let me see... what did I do with that note. He handed it to me as I crawled out the door, I don't remember much after that.

Wow! We have a lot of October birthdays! I'm on the 25th. Save some birthday cards for the rest of us Smidgy!

Jill in CO

Smidgy, my birthday is October 28, got to love those October babies.

Did I read that y'all are going to be there during December. I hope the weather is as wonderful for you as it was for us. High 80's everyday and a very light jacket or long sleeves at night. It did rain the last day there but we didn't care, lol. The kids did love the "snow" during the Christmas party and at the Osborne lights. Waiting for your next installment with much anticipation.

 

[ddstratton]

Wow! We have a lot of October birthdays! I'm on the 25th. Save some birthday cards for the rest of us Smidgy!

Jill in CO

Definitely a lot of October birthdays! Mine's the 22nd, and DH's is the 31st.

 

[Thumper_Man]

I'm back baby!

You're back to no good? You're back from the dentist? You're back from another trip? You're back from... Oh never mind.

And who you calling a baby? It's the onions I tell ya.

 

[Thumper_Man]

Wow! We have a lot of October birthdays! I'm on the 25th. Save some birthday cards for the rest of us Smidgy!

Jill in CO

My mom is also on the 25th.

 

[Backstage_Gal]

Definitely a lot of October birthdays! Mine's the 22nd, and DH's is the 31st.

Not a single October birthday in my family, I feel left out

Glad your eye was at least stable, Nebo

 

[Self_resqing_princz]

The one and only summer I was a lifeguard we had a code brown and code red at the same time and we had to close....
A little kid was sitting on the side of the pool with his feet in the water watching his older siblings in the shallow end of the water.... he couldn't have been more than 3. While sitting on the concrete he had... the squirts...
And then his mother picked him up and took him to the kiddie pool... without noticing... (which proceeded to get in the kiddie pool)... then some kid who was running around the pool (which I had yelled at numerous times NOT to run around the pool, slipped in the first mess and smashed the back of his head on the metal lip of the pool and fell in the pool. Blood in the pool... uhh.. #2 on the concrete next to the pool and #2 in the kiddie pool.
The running boy needed stitches in the back of his head and was banned from the pool for the rest of the summer.
So, needless to say we had to close down the whole pool to clean out the both pools with bleach and sanitize the concrete next to the pool.
Best paid-half-day-off ever!

 

[pkondz]

And who you calling a baby? It's the onions I tell ya.

Wear goggles. Trust me.
Beer goggles might work too, come to think of it.

 

[nebo]

The one and only summer I was a lifeguard we had a code brown and code red at the same time and we had to close....
A little kid was sitting on the side of the pool with his feet in the water watching his older siblings in the shallow end of the water.... he couldn't have been more than 3. While sitting on the concrete he had... the squirts...
And then his mother picked him up and took him to the kiddie pool... without noticing... (which proceeded to get in the kiddie pool)... then some kid who was running around the pool (which I had yelled at numerous times NOT to run around the pool, slipped in the first mess and smashed the back of his head on the metal lip of the pool and fell in the pool. Blood in the pool... uhh.. #2 on the concrete next to the pool and #2 in the kiddie pool.
The running boy needed stitches in the back of his head and was banned from the pool for the rest of the summer.
So, needless to say we had to close down the whole pool to clean out the both pools with bleach and sanitize the concrete next to the pool.
Best paid-half-day-off ever!

Well, thank you so much for that,, didi the have a code reen for booger flickers? I'm sticking to my bathtub from now on.
And now I see two massive posts back to back coming up, Heathe and the Ponz. or, I'm gonna be reading, Peace and War. Or, maybe dependinig on her mood, War and Feces.

This is the third time I've tried to post this...I hope it works this time!

Which brings us to our first contraindictions, Third times a Charm, and 3 strikes and you're out!





I always feel like I'm getting a grand tour with your pictures, especially since we have never stayed onsite anywhere on Disney property.

Oh yes, I am known high and low for my photogenic capabilities,,,,oh, you mean the pictures,, not me.

Why do I expect a short mustached man to be sticking his head out of an emerald building and telling you to, "Come on in" when you say that?

That was not only the Wizard, but Professor Marvel too, and we all know that's a horse of a different color.

What?

That's just not right. I demand you go back there right this minute and get a video. How are we supposed to get into the spirit of a Nebo and Smidgy vacation without a personalized room tour?

I know, I know, I had every intention, but then later on, it just seemed foolish to pretend 'm having a great time and business as usual, I mainly just hurt too much to do it.

Don't you hate that? We did that a couple years ago with some friends, and I would catch myself looking at them as we walked through the parks anticipating their reactions with this stupid grin on my face.

I actually had a completely different smiley in mind for this, but don't want to take the chance of getting banned or dinged for it. I may PM it to you just for kicks.

Oh, we're all adults here, we can take it. Except maybe Ponzi, he just a dolt.

Why do I feel like this is a set up for something down the road?

Cuz that's exactly what it is.


We were supposed to do T-Rex the last time we were in the World, and for some reason didn't get to it. I think we have it on our list again this time around. Hopefully we get a chance to do it so I can at least say we did.

If you do T=Rex, make sure to order it medium, and to split it with Mike, it's a lot to eat.

Now why, when picturing this all in my head, and going through the scene, with Todd trying to get into his room, and not being able to, do I suddenly see the nickel drop in and see him laughing as he tries to explain the dilema as the rest of you sort of watch him with quizzical looks and wonder how many margarita's he really did have when you weren't looking....Sorry, I'm not allowed to write chapters in our TR, My mind starts to run wild.

I'd like to say this was a humorous incident,but with my family, no, things don't work that way.





Why is that not surprising? He's gotta guy...Please tell me he said it in a very rough new york accent so it goes along with the storyline in my head.

Funnyyou say that, when I grew up, all older men "had a guy" that can dow whatever needed to be done.
"I got a guy that can fix that sidewalk for you cheap."

And now you can say, "I got a guy that can make Dr. Pepper come out your nose reading his trip reports."
See?

And if you really do, let me know who it is!
Yeah I know I really shouldn't be allowed online after a few drinks. Blame T-Man.

RIGHT! Never catch me in that compromising situation, that can get ugley.

D'oh...Why didn't anyone else think of that? Screwdrivers are for drinking...Envelopes are for opening doors!

_Bingo._____________________________________________




Hopefully we get a chance to see the welcome show this time around, we have yet to see it, and it seems to magical everytime you talk about it.

Jimminy Crickets,,,, It IS magical!


Remember, this is your child, and your childs child. Getting them to listen to you at any time and go along, is a huge thing! Take it where you can get it! Most kids don't listen to their parents!

I notice you left wives out.

What a handsome man Ponzi has become in such a short time!

Ooh, and aah, and Oh, well done, well done.
Ahem, he has gotten much better looking hasn't he?

Poor thing. It almost seems like she was sort of the odd man out on this trip.

I wasn't there most of the time to know, but you are right on in a lot of ways.





Uh oh...I don't like the sound of that.



I really really don't like the sound of that...

Gotta do something about that echo.

Poor Jackson. For that matter, poor everyone in your boat. That couldn't have been fun.

Right again,, and it really got on my nerves as well. Funny thing was, Jackson was sitting right beside me this time, between me and the edge of the boat. Since that worked out so well, that was pretty much it, I had my chance and let the ride break down.


Again. I feel like we are being set up for something here. I don't like it.

And you are Right once again! You don't have to like it, and you probably won't, you just need to read it.
And then we can all go over and read something cheerful like the planned birthday party of Osam Bin Laden to take place in his hidden retreat in Pakistan. Never should have included the RSVP on the invitation.

I sure hope you are right. I know that we constantly badger each other on these TR's, and we always sound like we are out for blood. I don't want to speak for everyone, but I for one read your TR's for the entertainment value, (The blood is a bonus!...I'm kidding, kidding!)

Wow, again, that's good.

and never want to see or hear a friend in pain or injured, and from the sounds of it, something is definitely not right. I sure hope that all turns out OK.

I can't wait for the next chapter.

almost there, almost

 

[nebo]

Not a single October birthday in my family, I feel left out

Glad your eye was at least stable, Nebo

You know, when I first started going back to my specailists, it was for what I hoped would be to make my eyes better. That hasn't happened. nd they keep on telling me that the good news is that they haven't gotten much worse since then. Their idea of good news and my idea ae still not exactly on the same page.

:






There's a good chance that some of your readers are already there.

How can that be when they haven't read it yet, I haven't posted it yet, for them to hate me when they get to the end of the chapter, like I said.
The only way they could hate me is if they already hated me from all

that

Ok, never mind.

Teak! It's teak right? I'm guessing that oak is too common for you and pine just isn't your style.

Oh, you were so close! Right about the oak , they are lousy tippers, but her favorite table is when Mahogony comes in, but if you can get the Teaks, Tweaked, they can end up good tables also. in most restaurants, the Maples are staples, and the Oaks make you choke, but nothing beats out the Mahogonys.





As much as I enjoyed the story (and I did! I did!), there's something that stood out.

A few weeks ago we had another DIS TR writer (also a Winnipeger) over for a visit with her daughter and her daughter's boyfriend. Turns out that her daughter and I share the same birthday.

Is this Tammi? For some reason she doesn't like me, that's why I have referred to her in my brain as the most intelligent person on the trip report boards.






Bad hormones! Bad! No supper for you! Go sit in the corner!

That takes care of that.

Remember the first joke you ever heard in school?
How do you make a hormone?
Geesh.


Thanks! I really....

Hey! Wait a sec... I think I just got insulted!

I came within an eyelash of being a lot worse, ,,, I wasn't going to include the "ten years in the future part."
See what I do for you, my good bud?

Even as a kid when I first heard that expression I used to say, to the point of being annoying, "You mean their breath smelled like nightcrawlers? YEWWW"


ok, boys, at the risk of being annoying....the word is "bated". "bate" means: to lessen the force of; moderate; as in "to bate one's breath".

so if you are waiting with bated breath, you are not breathing as much, like holding your breath.

hey, I gota correct nebo when I can! (you guys know that)

Um, excuse me,,, wait,,,,, EXCUSE MEEEEEEE! but I wasn't the one who first mispelled the word, I was just copying it over from Frank's post, and I thought it was polite NOT to correct him and his spelling, since it reallyn didn't matter, you know, take the high road?

Thanks for the education, Smidgy, I also spelled that wrong all my life (well, in my head anyway, I don't know that I ever put "with baited breath" in writing. But now I am edumacated

Edumacated? Yick. That sounds like something they do to you in the Spanish Inquisition! I'll have to ask Smidgy, I think I saw it on her "things to do" list for the week.

I also have a tiny offer of education to make. It is not "Code Brown" (although that is certainly easier to understand in a TR). The official code is AFR. Accidental Fecal Release

Now guess what code V means?

Ohh, I think I know the answer to this one.
It's when a guest suddenly decides to give birth with the new popular "under water method" they have recently brought back, and give birth to a Velociraptor in the middle of the Hippy Dippy Pool, ergo, Code V.

You want to be careful when you slap it on it's back.