December 10, 2006 - 12/10/06 Wonder

[disneyfan'ole]

Just popping in to say hello,

Hello!!! We missed you!!

 

[neckhardt]

They moved the shuttle flight up a week from the 14th to the 7th.

Pray for rain.

Neal

 

[MINNIE OF TWO MICE]

Just popping in to say hello,

I am so glad you are back!!! We have missed you. I hope all is well.

Monica - I am glad you are feeling better. We tried to do a hot air balloon ride in Branson MO but it was down the week we went. I would love to do it.

The seaworld folks have gone home. They lost the manatee. I just dont understand watching it all week and the night before the rescue they lose it. I hope it headed back for home. The river is running about 10 miles a hour. It could get back to warm waters quickly. The problem is the river is about 10 degrees cooler than the water in the harbour where it was. I just hope it is ok. You would think being an endangered species they would have been more careful.

Thank goodness right now Christie doesnt want her hair braided. She said she didnt want anyone to do her hair!

 

[MINNIE OF TWO MICE]

They moved the shuttle flight up a week from the 14th to the 7th.

Pray for rain.

Neal

Neal - I hope you get to see it. I wanted to but there was no way to get our flight times to work and we need to be home Friday. Chrisite and Howard would have loved it but I didnt even mention it to them.

 

[BabyBird]

Just popping in to say hello,

Yay!!!!
We thought you had been abducted by aliens or something!

 

[BabyBird]

Hot air balloon ride was amazing - definately recommend that you do this at least 1 x in your lifetime (and I get motion sickness easily, and am scared of heights).

I double ditto the motion sickness and fear of heights.

Now you have to tandem skydive.
No, I'm not kidding.
It is exactly the same thrill - no overwhelming height or movement sensation.

My DS (46), DN (19), DFIL (70) and I (29+/-) went as a group a few months ago and it was so much fun we are all going to do it annually. Pay the extra for the video because the whole thing is over in the blink of an eye - you will want to see what happened!

It was funny to see people when they returned from their jump because they all had a huge smile on their face that wouldn't go away!
Do it!

 

[MINNIE OF TWO MICE]

William and I wanted to before we had children. Actually got all the info on it and found out I was pregnant!!! I still want to do it one day. It is wierd because I want to skydive but NEVER want to bungee.

 

[BabyBird]

Skydiving doesn't hurt - I think bungee jumping jerks you around pretty bad.

When you see people go up really quickly in the skydiving videos it isn't because they are getting jerked UP, it's because the camera guy is still falling when they open their parachute.

After we all finished for the day one of the tandem instructors told us that we all now knew the big secret of skydiving - it's fun but not scary at all. Honestly, I would rather go to Jesus skydiving than something boring like old age. BTW - you would only have about 10 seconds of 'uh-oh' if things didn't go well. When we opened the parachute (I got to pull the rip cord) my instructor said, "we have a good canopy" and all I could think was, "well, duh".

Honestly, ballooning is more dangerous because you have very little control of your landing, especially in the wind.
Mishoe, did you take tons and tons of pictures on your ride??

 

[mishoe01]

I double ditto the motion sickness and fear of heights.

Now you have to tandem skydive.
No, I'm not kidding.
It is exactly the same thrill - no overwhelming height or movement sensation.

My DS (46), DN (19), DFIL (70) and I (29+/-) went as a group a few months ago and it was so much fun we are all going to do it annually. Pay the extra for the video because the whole thing is over in the blink of an eye - you will want to see what happened!

It was funny to see people when they returned from their jump because they all had a huge smile on their face that wouldn't go away!
Do it!

We even had Mimosas and breakfast afterwards

I can get motion sickness from watching a movie on TV - it's that bad.

I DO want to skydive 1x (atleast). I try to do things all the time that will hopefully lessen my fear of heights (Climbed the bridge in Sydney, the Tower of Pisa, the Eiffel Tower)....I also figure you only live once, so live it to the fullest---NO REGRETS!!! (BUT no need to bungee....my family has back issues, and not need to do anything to bring more back problems my way).

My mom actually was in a bunch of pain after our landing---quite rough. This is something I would do again if the opportunity came up, but it's not cheap. Dad & I were supposed to do this in Australia, but it got cancelled due to the wind and we couldn't reschedule it due to what we already had scheduled.

I took tons of pics - my goal for this weekend is to get them online.

 

[MINNIE OF TWO MICE]

William is the daredevil in our household. If I do something crazy, it is 99.99% of the time driven by him. I love him to death and will do just about anything. To date, the only two things I have done that I was scared to death was...Shreika at Busch Gardens and the ejection chair in Branson. My handprints are probably still imbedded in both rides. The only exception to not getting on them ever again would be if my children wanted me too. For some reason though skydiving just seems so much more peaceful. If I crashed I probably wouldnt ever even know it. The ejection chair had me on microphone and I didnt know it and we had drawn quite a crowd before we got off. I prayed to God. Fussed to William....and screamed my head off. No one rode it after us!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[neckhardt]

Neal - I hope you get to see it. I wanted to but there was no way to get our flight times to work and we need to be home Friday. Chrisite and Howard would have loved it but I didnt even mention it to them.

Oh, I won't get to see it, we don't arrive till the ninth.

Neal

 

[ktpool]

Hello everyone!

I haven't had internet access for 4 days and counting. Stupid cable company says they are backed up and don't even know when they can get out to me, grrrr. Really bad since I am taking online classes and I have assignments due.

I dredged up my old dial up account (after being in denial for 3 days), so I have some access - but it is funny how painfully slow it is now, but I lived with it for years

Hopefully I will get my high speed back this week and I can chat again.

iankh - these are the requirements for the final project on the given scenario:
To successfully complete this project, you will be expected to:

1. Develop requirements for software testing that are based on concepts of quality improvement.
2. Develop a test plan that is based on proper testing methodology.
3. Construct a testing process that aligns with business needs of the company.
4. Define risks and costs of implementing testing project.
5. Establish criteria for evaluating results of testing.

This is my last course - whooo hooo!

 

[MINNIE OF TWO MICE]

Kristen - It is always great to here someone continue their education. Good luck on your assignment and hopefully we will all get to celebrate your great success. I chose to get married four weeks before I was to go off to college. My love for William overruled. Although, I would not change any of my decisions I have made, I would have an absolute stroke if Christie or Howard chose the same!!!!!!

I still havent decided on my fish extender but will make that decision this week. Our secretary is coming to my rescue with my mousekeeping envelopes. All of the computer wizzes in our group would be so ashamed of me, I cant figure it out!!!

We got historical halloween over. We went to zoo boo at our local zoo. It was alot of fun.

The busch car races were wonderful!!!!!! We had great seats. It was sold out. I have never been so squeezed in the middle of so much excitement. In the middle of the race, Howard wanted to know if I could get used to it. He was talking about him racing NASCAR. I told him there was no place I would rather be.......(other than disneyworld!!!!) Not really, IF he makes it I would be there with bells on.

We got our secretaries family a WDW trip for the weekend after Thanksgiving...it was the only time they could go. While I was at the races, the TA called to say their documents were in. I'M SO JEALOUS!!!!! I have to go get them in the morning.

 

[MINNIE OF TWO MICE]

Is anyone planning on attending any of the mousefest events before the cruise?

 

[SILLYANDI]

I've been thinking about the mousefest stuff- I'm a tour guide Mike addict though and all of their events are pretty much at odds with what he says to do and were to go on what days.
I used TGM last time we went and we never stood in line for more than 5 minutes (I'm not joking-DH was singing Mike's praises after the first day-we would ride everything & see everything we wanted then go back to our hotel for an afternoon nap by 1PM).

 

[SILLYANDI]

We had our 5th annual pumpkin carving party tonight and we had over 100 people there! I couldn't believe it! Tomorrow night we are going to Disneyland's equivalent of Mickey's not so scary Halloween party. I'm really excited.

 

[iankh]

Hello everyone!

iankh - these are the requirements for the final project on the given scenario:
To successfully complete this project, you will be expected to:

1. Develop requirements for software testing that are based on concepts of quality improvement.
2. Develop a test plan that is based on proper testing methodology.
3. Construct a testing process that aligns with business needs of the company.
4. Define risks and costs of implementing testing project.
5. Establish criteria for evaluating results of testing.

This is my last course - whooo hooo!

You are being taught proper testing methodology, aren't you? That's a good thing too. What is the system or application under test for this exercise?

 

[iankh]

I've been thinking about the mousefest stuff- I'm a tour guide Mike addict though and all of their events are pretty much at odds with what he says to do and were to go on what days.
I used TGM last time we went and we never stood in line for more than 5 minutes (I'm not joking-DH was singing Mike's praises after the first day-we would ride everything & see everything we wanted then go back to our hotel for an afternoon nap by 1PM).

I used TGM once and I thought it was good, certainly fun to use. The information was not that different from the Unofficial Guide.

However, one thing that I firmly believe in (that you won't find in the Unofficial Guide) is getting out of the parks by about 1:00 PM or 2:00 PM to relax. Depending on the season, the parks are so packed that they become unpleasant.

For the podcast, my co-host and I are planning a regular segment called "Smell the Roses" (or something like that) focused on those little, fun and often overlooked things that are great to do. We're bringing our own ideas and hoping to get ideas contributed by listeners.

Sort of a balance to the often "comando" style of doing WDW.

 

[MINNIE OF TWO MICE]

I may be a little commando. I make everyone get out of bed early and get dressed so that we can be at the parks early. I like to shut everything down too!!!! Swimming? Maybe 1 hour just before the pool closes if it is warm enough. We always go the first or second week of December so it has only been warm enough one time. We have to squeeze in at least on trip to downtown disney. I want to see every parade. Yes, when we get back my husband really needs another vacation but his holiday adrenaline keeps him going!!!! We are used to a week so only having really four days and a half my group better wear comfortable shoes. That is why we are doing the cruise on the second half of our vacation. I get our clothes out and ironed the night before and the children take their baths the night before and that cuts down on time.

Last year some people from school decided to crash our "family vacation". They wanted to hit the train when you go in and let it carry you to the back of MK. I was livid!!!!! I like walking down main street. To me it is part of the magic. On the second day, I had to put my foot down and tell my children, this is your vacation..ride what you want to. The little boy would guilt Howard into riding what he wanted to. They only came for four days. THANK GOD, because I was just before blowing my top. I must have gotten my point across because no one has asked what dates we were going this year!!

Andrea - Is everything OK? Just havent seen much of you lately. I am so jealous that you live that close to Disneyland. I hope yall have a great time tonight. Sounds like you pumpkin carving party was a great success.

Kristen and IANKH - Yall sound very intelligent when it comes to computers. I hope IANKH can help Kristen because when we are on that subject, I dont have a clue.

How is everyone else coming on their deadlines?

 

[BabyBird]

Howdy All!

We are not commando at all. We do two parks a day with a 2-3 hour break in the middle of the day. We wait at least an hour before each parade to get the best seat we can - ice cream is the BEST way to pass the time!
My DS only rides the 'big' rides, over and over. She and DN eat dinner at Epcot every night - no where else. Seems like a waste to me but to each his own, right? They think we are idiots because we ride the train and watch parades.

As far as deadlines, trip prep is going really well. I am done with my door decorations, I just need my fish stocking and cruise decor is finis! The AKL room decorations are going really well. I found a tree topper - star - this weekend. Only a few more things to go!
House prep isn't going well, unfortunately. I need to clean the carpets and am procrastinating big time!

What kind of evening wear are you all taking? Joe and I didn't 'do' the club scene last time but plan to this trip. What do people wear?