Daddy for a week, Emily's Special Trip to "Ally's Room"

[Cafeen]

Morning Allan,

You know what I am going to say.....you're such a sweetie for helping Beth out (again). When's that girl gonna wise up and realize she and Emily just need to move down there with you? You know it. We know it. Now, we just gotta make her realize it.

She knows it too. I know at least part of her does want to come down. I'm normally fairly oblivious to these things, but even I can sense it. She does have strings tying her up there though. She just met her biological father two years ago, so she's not ready to move half the country away from him yet (Although, I know if she decided she'd want to, he'd fully support it. He seems to be a lot like me). Also, she can't just pack up and leave unless "The Jerk" either OKs it (which, he never would for me, we don't particularly get along ) or just disappears (which is what we're hoping for).

In time, it may come, or I may end up back up there. I'm in no hurry though.

Ditto!

Allen, you are such a wonderful person. I wish Beth could just realize it and come to Mobile. I love the book. I had just made one for Austin for his senior year. I hope he likes his. I wasn't as smart as you and didn't put in as many pics. I should have added more but it was my first book. I know you must have been busy cause we've missed you on the Dis. Have a great weekend

I had a bit of practice before I made that one. I actually have 5 of them on my account (1 MK, 1 Epcot, 1 DHS & AK, and 1 raw scenery, plus that one), so I made the others first to get a hang of it before I attempted that one. I put a lot of time into making that one as best as it could be, since I know that it will mean a lot more to her and her dad than the others.

I tried to look at the book, but my websense blocks it. Darn it all! I would have loved to have seen it.

Stupid IT blocking stuff! Don't they know you have important things to do with your time?!

I'm rather lucky here, our IT guys are a bit more laid back and don't bother blocking stuff. They know that if they blocked stuff like that, they wouldn't be able to get to them easily either!

--

Ok, more work, less play I don't want to stay here late tonight (and thus make the whole team stay late) and I have to finish this stuff today (/shakefist @ deadlines!)

 

[MICKEY4EVER!]

I hope the "Jerk" disappears, too!

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

The book is wonderful!!! I am sure Beth's dad will love it!

 

[Cafeen]

Yes, yes, I'm still around. Work has been busy leading up to this weekend and had little to no time to DIS. I think I'm also extending a bit, since we're pretty much done with the trip now , but we'll see how it continues!

Thanksgiving was quiet. I don't really celebrate it that much, since I'm just on my own down here, but it's nice to have a 4 day weekend . Beth had her father and a couple others over and it sounds like it went well. I did get Emily a Tinkerbell hoodie for Christmas, but I told Beth to give her that on Thanksgiving since I know she'd need a sweatshirt before then. She really liked it of course .

Talked to the two of them for a while last night. Emily's speech is getting so much better. She was telling me everything that was happening on the TV since she is starting to understand that I can't see it on the phone. As always, she melts my heart every time I hear her. Not a whole lot else is going on though.

Today, I'm fighting with my network to download a game (legally!). It goes for awhile at full speed and then shuts down, so I have to restart the downloader. Thankfully, it saves the progress so I'm not losing anything, it's just annoying to have to babysit a 5GB download. I also have to do some work around the house, but, we'll see how that goes

I hope the "Jerk" disappears, too!

It's really the only solution. He's starting to pull his crap again, which is quite funny as it's only going to bite him in the behind. He thinks he's going to be able to hold Emily over Beth's head for the rest of her life, but he's already lost his 3 other kids, which is ammunition enough if combined with other stuff he's done/capable of doing to make him never see her again.

The book is wonderful!!! I am sure Beth's dad will love it!

I am too. I haven't met the man yet, but it's pretty amazing how often we tell Beth the same thing. I know that I would absolutely love it if I were in his shoes, so I'm sure he'll feel the same.

 

[Cafeen]

Well, I figure that since it was exactly 2 months ago right now that we were leaving Disney on the ME bus, it's a good time to get the final installment up. There aren't any pictures here, but I still have some of Beth's left over that I'll get up soon.

Sunday came and we knew it was going to be time to head out. We got our Disney eviction notices the day before and were all packed up. Of course, Beth barely had room to repack, even though her suitcase was half empty on the way down. (She was debating bringing both that one and Emily's. I made sure she did). We got everything packed in and headed down for breakfast at the Pepper Market.

We ate. It wasn't that great. I had an overly dry waffle and they had something else. Really, was our least favorite meal there that we had, but that seemed fitting since we were leaving anyway. We ate up, and headed back to the room for the last hour or so before ME would be picking us up.

We headed down to El Centro when it was time and checked in to ME. Soon enough we were on our way. As we were nearing the airport, the AC on the bus died. Since it was another 90-something degree day, we were all dropped off at the first stop. We headed toward the Southwest desk and got Beth and Emily checked in and their bags on the belt. After, I went over to the Continental desk and got myself all taken care of.

We then went to the McDonalds in the big middle area and got Emily a happy meal. She was hungry as she barely ate breakfast. We headed outside to eat it and do our thing. She only ate about half the burger, so I took care of the rest . (I was really hungry too, as you'll see soon enough). We browsed in the shops a little, and then it was about an hour and a half before Beth's flight by now, so it was time to send her through security.

As you can imagine, this was difficult for me. I had been a father for a week and now it was time for that to end. We said our quick goodbyes and I had to make a quick exit (yes, big me had tears welling up...) They headed off through the checkpoint and I was on my own again.

I was still hungry, so I picked up a McDonald's burger and then hung around a bit (my flight was 2 hrs after theirs). A little while later, I picked up a Burger King burger inside the checkpoint (told ya I was hungry!). The flight went off just fine and 2 hours later I was in Pensacola. Grabbed a cab to the Greyhound station and was able to make the 6:40pm bus to Mobile. Pulled into Mobile around 7:30 and called a cab to go home.


And thus, concludes the trip.

I do still have some of Beth's pics to post, as well as to recap, so I'm not quite done yet! But those will come later as I don't feel like doing it right now. Just remembering having to say goodbye brought that back a bit much .

 

[Disney Spaz]

All I can say is you are an amazing man and a wonderful gift in Beth and Emily's life. Thank you for sharing.

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

Here's a big

I hate "See ya later" 's!

 

[KatMark]

Allan, let me just say that you are a TERRIFIC man and Emily and Beth are VERY lucky to have you.

 

[aaaateamsgrandma]

Allen, I am so like you. Goodbyes are the very worst. That had to be amazingly hard for you and Beth too. It would be very hard to leave Emily. She is a precious child and you have shown us what she and Beth mean to you. I wish nothing but good things for you and it does work out in the end.

You are a good person and deserve the best.

Ginny

 

[MICKEY4EVER!]

Aw, your post about saying goodbye was so sad! I know that had to be hard on you.

 

[aaaateamsgrandma]

Allan, we have missed you. I hope everything is ok and you have a very special Christmas. Come and talk to us when you can.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Ginny

 

[KatMark]

I second one Ginny says...we've missed you. Come back and visit (you can always come to the CSR thread...we had to start a new one already from the one we started in July!).

Merry Christmas.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Merry Christmas Allan! I hope that you have a wonderful holiday. Please pass along Christmas wishes to Beth and Emily too!

Lisa

 

[MEK]

allan-

I just saw that your TR was still going, so I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed it. Your concluding day was so bittersweet. I bet that was one tough day.

I hope you had a wonderful christmas and that all is going well!