Disney...by Land and Sea...Morris Style!

[NiniMorris]

Hi Nini, reaching out to you today with a big hug. My heart aches for you today and everyday that you have lost so much. I know that hearing the words "I love you" each time you end a conversation must give the recipient such a warm feeling that never leaves them. Your strength to help Mr D and Miss B move on from that tragedy is invaluable and praiseworthy. It is an honor for me to call you a friend. Your mother looks beautiful in that photo you shared. Saying a special prayer for you today.

After I actually got moving, the day got better. Since it was therapy day I barely had time to breathe, much less think, Thank you for the kind words and thoughts.


They released Debbie's body and funeral arrangements are made for tomorrow. I still do not know what the medical Examiner listed as cause of death, but it appears they did not do an autopsy, so that is a good thing. It either means they did not suspect an overdose or that they were sure it was self inflicted...but it is better for the family...easer to get closure.

The funeral is tomorrow, and I have no one to watch the kids so they are going with me. I'm not sure how Mr D will do, but we will try.

On good news front, my computer came in yesterday. It is going to take a while to get used to it...smaller keyboard, smaller screen, Windows 8.1...and a very strange keyboard(!) But so far I like it. It is much more portable than my laptop. Of course, husband is very happy to get his own computer...since the laptop will become his once I get everything set up right. My biggest problem is the external hard drive (which will hold all my embroidery files) seems to not like the computer...so I really need to get that figured out before I let them have my computer has all the designs on it.

Today I am going back in the studio to finish up (hopefully) the last of the beach bags for he brides maids... I doubt I will EVER agree to put names on striped bags again! The stripes are not straight...and no matter what I do the names 'seem' off...

ADR date is Saturday...as is Miss Mia's birthday party and Mr D 's first baseball game.

 

[DMGeurts]

Oh Nini... Your post really moved me this morning. I also lost my Mom much sooner than I should have - under completely different circumstances - it's always just a horrible thing to go through.

To have your friend lose her mom, at the same time of year, and under such sad circumstances cannot be easy for any of you. I wish you strength today, and I will be saying prayers for your friend and her family.

I loved seeing that picture of your mom - she was beautiful.

(((Hugs)))

D~

 

[NiniMorris]

I get a new computer, get it all set up and BAM!! It stops working on the second day! Will not connect to the internet, even though it thinks it is!

This morning, armed with a few new things to try, I find out that neither computer will connect (obviously it is now an internet problem and maybe not a computer problem!).

Now, my only internet us through my phone. I guess this is one way to make sure my house gets clean.... Deprive me if internet!!

 

[NiniMorris]

Oh Nini... Your post really moved me this morning. I also lost my Mom much sooner than I should have - under completely different circumstances - it's always just a horrible thing to go through.

To have your friend lose her mom, at the same time of year, and under such sad circumstances cannot be easy for any of you. I wish you strength today, and I will be saying prayers for your friend and her family.

I loved seeing that picture of your mom - she was beautiful.

(((Hugs)))

D~

Loosing a Mom is never easy. No matter how old you are or how it happens.




The internet is now working...but the new computer still does not like the internet. I really wish I could get it working but I am tired of dealing with it right now...so THERE!!! Take THAT new computer!1


(yes, I do feel better now that I have yelled at an inanimate object!)

House did not get cleaned today, but I did manage to fix the dishwasher, which is a BIG plus. I hope I can remember what I did, because it seems to have this problem about every 7 or 8 months...and I know it is because it is not installed correctly, but I am not about to take it out and re-install it!

My son and the Grand Princess are going to Disney! Her other Grandmother is a big NASCAR fan. Her work gave her tickets to the last race of the season (in Homestead, FL). So she is taking my son and his wife with her. While they were in the planning stages, I joked that they should just take a detour to Disney...well, one thing led to another and that is exactly what they are doing!

The best part is that the Grand Princess does not know about it. They are hoping to keep it a surprise from her. The 4 of them will stay at Disney for two days before the race, them Grandmother and Mom will head to Miami for the race, and Princess and Daddy will spend a day at Disney together.

I have always wanted to plan a surprise trip....this is FUN!


Tomorrow is my ADR date. I am so excited! I can not wait to get these done!~

Nini

 

[KatMark]

Tomorrow is my ADR date. I am so excited! I can not wait to get these done!~

Nini

And do we have our final choices picked out?

 

[NiniMorris]

And do we have our final choices picked out?

OF COURSE! LOL

I just finished... This is what we ended up with:

Coral Reef 7:15
Crystal Palace 5:50
'Ohana 6:45
Tusker House 12:00
Be Our Guest 8:40

We had wanted Boma...but they are not open for lunch so we will do Tusker House . The only one I will probably end up changing is Crystal Palace...that time is too early since it is a party night and we are not doing the party. With that time we will have to be leaving the park after dinner and it really puts a kink in our plans for the day...

But..... I am thrilled beyond belief in the Be Our Guest timing! It is only 10 minutes off what I was wanting! Now if I can just remember WHY I wanted it that late I will be happy! LOL! I 'think' it is because Fireworks are at 10 that night and I want to be coming out of BOG and watch them between the castles...

Since that is my actual birthday it is going to be my dream come true...even though we have eaten there each and every time we have gone to Disney since it has opened...I still do not feel a trip is complete unless we eat there! LOL!

So now the planning really feels like it is real! This is the one date in my planning that makes it all fall into place...all the stressing and planning, the spreadsheets and notebooks...now it is set in stone!




Nini

 

[cogero]

Congrats on getting all your ADRs

I am sorry that your computer doesn't work that is part of the reason we switched over to Macs even though they are more expensive we have way less issues.

 

[NiniMorris]

Congrats on getting all your ADRs

I am sorry that your computer doesn't work that is part of the reason we switched over to Macs even though they are more expensive we have way less issues.

I thought about getting an Apple...but I would have to get another program in order for my Embird to work...and from what I have read, it does not always work right with it...

My IT guy...aka my son in law... thinks it may have a virus that downloaded itself...it all started when it was trying to download an update. So I get to take it back to the store...


I almost feel guilty about Be Our Guest. This will be our 5th visit there...I know there are people that have still not been able to get in...and when I went back in this morning just to see...there is nothing available during our whole trip! Then, when I think about the fact that I was able to snag it only a week out during our February trip...I really feel guilty.

But then again I realize it IS my birthday and I should be able to choose where I want to eat..


Yes, I am selfish! LOL!


The guy that was supposed to prepare the pool site was two hours late getting here yesterday...so although he did finish before Miss Mia's party last night I did not have time to start on putting the pool up.

Today, after church services we will get started on it! Supposedly, you can set it up in less than 2 hours...however, we will have a particular issue with putting it back in the same spot as the previous one. We built the deck around it! Should be fun!

Of course...tomorrow the colder weather comes back...so even though we should have the pool up, we will not be able to get in it for a little over a week. But I have to get it up before the storms get in and we loose all the work that has been done to the site...sheesh!

Miss Mia had a wonderful party last night...only she does not like cake! She completely destroyed her Smash Cake...but only got a tiny bit of it in her mouth and made horrible faces and gagging sounds! She was so cute in her Minnie Mouse dress...but then she had a royal fit when they tried to take it off her....After she was cleaned up and redressed (complete with matching bow) she was much happier! She is a little Diva!



Nini


(yes, pictures WILL follow...I just have to download them)

 

[KatMark]

Nini, so glad you got your ADR's. We've never done Tusker House for lunch...only breakfast; you'll have to let me know what you think.

I'm happy you got BOG for your birthday! That is awesome.

 

[NiniMorris]

Nini, so glad you got your ADR's. We've never done Tusker House for lunch...only breakfast; you'll have to let me know what you think.

I'm happy you got BOG for your birthday! That is awesome.

I've done Tusker House for dinner before (in February) We liked the food but it was very noisy...and that was with no characters. We are thinking about doing away with it and having Boma for dinner after the park day. Mr D really has a problem with noise...if we have characters it works best to have them at night...for some reason he can handle it better later at night.

About the BOG for my birthday...my husband reminded me that I have not changed our reservation yet...we are still supposedly checking out on my birthday...although we have already decided to stay the extra day. I figure I will wait until FD is released to actually change the dates. Although I am 99% sure we will still go without FD (even though husband has only agreed to it IF free dining is released!) Since I am paying for it ...I don't see it as a problem...LOL!

Guess I need to contact that pesky Travel agent of mine....LOL


I was just reading all the craziness about the Anna and Elsa meetings! Oh MY! I really hope they have all that nonsense worked out before we go in October! While I understand the appeal of the characters...I can not believe how crazy people are ... Running, shoving, fighting, all for a chance to stand in line for 2 to 4 hours? Well, while you take YOUR child to see them I will be riding .... The only character I have EVER stood in line for was Talking Mickey...and he did not talk!

Well, it is semi official... The Grand Princess will be taking a surprise trip to Disney in November! They will be deciding on one room vs two rooms soon and then we will book it! I really wish I could see the look on her face!

They are driving to Miami. (at least she thinks so) Since they will be going through Orlando anyway... Mommy is going to want to go to Downtown Disney to get her Christmas Ornament. Daddy will let them out with the understanding that he will go 'park the car' and meet up with them in a bit. He will go check in and ride the Mickey bus back to DTD. Then, they will eat at Earl of Sandwich...then they will take Grammy on a ride on the Mickey Bus... when they get to their resort, they will get off and "VOILA!" they have a room!

I really wish I could see her face! It will be priceless! I find it funny that they have put so much planning into the surprise of the whole trip...even more than the planning! It will be her Grammy's first trip, and they will be doing the Christmas party on their first day!


__________________

This weekend has been pretty eventful. The guy to fix the site for the pool finally got here about 2 hours late. That made it so we had to wait until Sunday to put the pool up. We probably could have done it Saturday before we left, but it would have been pushing it! Our biggest issue was the deck. We built our deck to go around the previous pool...so this one being larger made it a bit difficult to slide it in. Also the deck is about 4 inches too low now, since this pool is deeper by 4 inches.

But it only took a few minutes to get it figured out...and went up pretty easily. Of course, I had a problem with the heat...it was only about 85...but of course I got sick...so all I was able to do was to supervise. We have been putting water in it since 5 last evening...it has about 2 - 3 inches of water in it! This one holds about 14,660 gallons...our last one held only 8,500. Of course it is supposed to rain for the next 4 days...and we are in a flood watch/warning...so that should help getting it filled up. We are expected to have 2-5 inches of rain...

Of course my OCD is driving everyone crazy! I am insisting on scrubbing all things we are reusing with bleach. The steps are driving me crazy! Two hours of scrubbing them yesterday and they still are not clean enough to go back in the pool. From a distance they look fine...but when you get up to them you can really see the yuck that still needs to come off!

Mr D had it in his mind that once the pool went up he could swim...he was very upset when he realized it was going to take a while to get some water in it...so he went over to my son's house to swim. When I went to pick him up I discovered just how small their pool is compared to mine...but theirs is the same size as what we had...that 6 foot is really, REALLY a lot!

I do know that if it were not for this cold front coming through we would have gotten the Fire Department to fill the pool...but today is the last warm day we will have for the next 10 days... so if it takes 10 days to fill up that is fine...

And I forgot to tell you about Mr D's first baseball game! He loves it! He has terrible coordination...but he hit the ball over the fence Every. Single. At. Bat! He still has a problem with the glove...It goes on his left hand. That is the side he was paralyzed on. It takes him about 30 minutes to get his hand in the glove. Once he gets it in...he has a bit of problem catching the ball....but he can slow it down...so that is a start! But he can throw!!! Hard and fast! None of the adults will play catch with him because he throws so hard.

Now...you have to understand a few things...He has never played catch before! He has never thrown a ball before. The only thing he knows about baseball is what he has learned on the Wii...he said it was pretty close to the same thing...except the coach expected him to actually RUN around the bases...LOL!

He can't wait to play again! I guess it is safe to say it was a HIT!

Nini

 

[cogero]

Sounds like a fun surprise for the Grand Princess.

Good luck with the pool.

YEAH for Mr. D loving baseball that is so awesome.

 

[NiniMorris]

Sounds like a fun surprise for the Grand Princess.

Good luck with the pool.

YEAH for Mr. D loving baseball that is so awesome.

Thanks! The pool went together pretty easy and we are STILL The 4 to 6 inches of rain today should help quite a bit!




The rumors of Free Dining have not set well with our house today! If the rumors are true then our dates will not be included. There is still hope for a room discount, which would probably save us more money, but husband is freaking out! Even though the total amount of the trip is still less than he was expecting to have to pay (even though I am the one paying it!) when he hears that we won't get Free Dining he panics that it will cost too much! LOL.

If we do get Free Dining, the 'savings' will go towards buying annual passes for us...so I have no clue why he is so upset! I think he just doesn't get Mickey Math!

Today is Therapy day for us, and it is very stormy here. This will make for an interesting day...Mr D does not like rain...much less storms! Plus we will be seeing one new therapist today. PT. We haven't seen a PT in a couple of years because he tested out...now he has regressed so bad that it is much needed again.

Well, the lightning has started up...so I guess I need to get off the computer and finish getting ready for the day!


Nini

 

[NiniMorris]

What a difference a day makes!

Yesterday we were in the middle of doom and gloom as far as the weather goes, starting off with a freak wind storm...sustained winds of 40 mph with gusts up to 65mph! It lasted a little over an hour and trees went down every where! We were without power for a little over half the day and no internet or phones until late last night. It was even messing with our cell coverage and cell internet...

Driving Mr D to school yesterday seemed like I was driving in a war zone. A new detour every block due to trees being down across roads. Our town is very old. In the main part of town we had trees that were well over a century old lining the main streets. We lost at least 20 of them in town and bunches more out in the county.

This morning you could not even tell there was a problem yesterday! It was all cleaned up.

So, today we are back in business an on the internet.


And more importantly, today is Miss Mia's birthday! So in honor of my newest Grand daughter's birthday I am going to attempt to post a picture. I know I know...I owe you pictures of the birthday party from Saturday...but I still haven't had a chance to download them. This new computer is not as much fun as it was when I first got it...the whole issue with Internet Explorer not working has given me fits... So here goes nothing!

Nini

PS...She is not really telling you she is one...She is singing her favorite song...This little Christian Light of mine!

 

[NiniMorris]

Heaven Help me!

Even though I knew that Free Dining was not going to include our dates as early as last week, I wait until today's announcement to panic!

I am now rethinking everything!

How much would we save if we change our dates...how about September...or maybe Early November...or what about....

You get the drift! And with all the rush to get free dining...the site is slower than molasses...and I don't have time to sit on the phone again. I did that this morning for three clients. LOL!

Well....we had Special Olympics today. Mr D did pretty well. He got one second place and one third place ribbon. He was hilarious! He threw his shoe about two feet from the finish line and was going back to get it...he just barely crossed the line in front of the third place finisher...and he had a very large lead at one time.

And with the softball throw he was afraid of hitting anyone...so he barely threw it at all...and still came in third!

I can't wait to see him play baseball tomorrow. He really loves it!

Well, I need to go and stress and obsess some more about what to do with our trip dates....and to secretly hope that my daughter in law's mother can't go to the races after all...because then I get to go!


Nini

 

[KatMark]

Miss Mia is adorable...and Happy 1st birthday again.

The Disney site with the free dining AND the Mine ride beingi available for FP+ has been crazy all day. Luckily, I got oru FP+ for two days for the Mine Ride, but it took a lot of patience.

 

[NiniMorris]

Remember all my complaints about how Miss B did not want to go on the cruise? Surprise, Surprise! She is ok with leaving off the park portion...but is now excited about going on the cruise.

Maybe I should have bribed her friends to tell her they were jealous about her going on a cruise earlier! She is now the 'cool' girl because she is going on a cruise for Fall Break! Of course, who knows how those high school girls will look at it! She is still in middle school after all! At least for 10 more days!


Nini



PS I can't figure out how to add a photo from FB on this new computer...the right click option will not wor for me on this crazy key board...so I have to wait until I can get back on (now) my husband's laptop to make it work!)

 

[DMGeurts]

Oh my goodness - that little Mia is so precious!!! I love that picture of her!

Congrats to Mr. D for doing so well! That is awesome!

Hmmm.... I vote for August... I know - our dates wouldn't overlap... Some day - we WILL meet Nini! Once I meet Chiara this summer... You are the LAST Diser on my ultimate bucket list.... :whistle:

I hope you are able to reconfigure your dates to squeeze in free dining... I love FD!

D~

 

[NiniMorris]

I love my new computer...but I hate the keyboard! I can not post pictures from Facebook...the keyboard does not like me! Anyway!


Husband and I had a chance to talk about Disney last night. Briefly. He is on nights now, and I see him about 15 minutes a day. He has to be in the mood to talk about Disney (who ever heard of such a thing!). He said he would check to see if he can get off during one of the two date ranges I gave him. He won't check until next week. His supervisor will be out until next Monday night.

He is somewhat open to changing the dates. The other option would be to change from AKL Savannah room view to a moderate. That would save us about as much as the Free Dining would save us. Keeping the dates during the school break.

We will see!

Today is Therapy day...meaning I am going to be out for 99% of the day. We have an additional doctor's appointment today where we will talk about increasing Mr D's meds.

I am fighting with Miss B's school....again! The band director is a money hungry terrible teacher who makes each concert all about HER! To say I dislike her is an understatement! She is always asking for money. When you ask her why she needs it, she changes her mind. She has now decided that Miss B owes money for 'something' and until she pays it she cannot participate in any school activities! She will not send me any sort of proof... she told me to check my cancelled checks!! Seriously? My bank stopped giving cancelled checks back years ago. If I want to have a cancelled check I have to pay for it!

She can not tell me which 'fee' it is that she is missing..just that she owes $20. This is the same teacher that 2 years ago decided all students needed to pay an additional $25 at the end of school in order to graduate. She had adopted a child and had some financial difficulties associated with it that her salary would not cover, so she needed the money!

I am only slightly exaggerating! Those were the reasons we were given for 'donating' the additional money to her. Because teachers are not paid enough to do all they do.

The only good thing about her is that I only have to deal with her for 8 more days!

Any way... not only do I have therapy today, I will have Miss B as well! She is staying home.

I am almost caught up with everything I need to do for our beach get away! I have two dresses with monorgrams to make for the girls to wear for some pictures. I was supposed to cut them out and do the monograms yesterday, but I ended up spending 2 hours on the phone with Disney. I had hoped that the initial fury over Free Dining would be over, but I still spent for ever on hold! But I got what the client wanted and they are happy, so that is all that matters!


Time to get the kids up....everyone have a great day!


Nini

 

[NiniMorris]

So the saga with the band director continues.... her comments were rather rude and juvenile...but I expect that to change now.

I found proof that we had paid, sent her the info (but not a copy of the check...) and gave her a short lesson on accounting and bookkeeping. I explained to her a bit of Best Practices in bookkeeping...and explained that as a school board employee she was required to keep better records if she chose to collect money!

I also asked for a public apology for Miss B...since she was called out during class time for the non payment...it is only fair that the apology be as public as the infraction!

Yes, I am still hot under the collar over this. Husband wanted to actually file an open records request for a general audit of school funds! He was THAT angry! I just want them to stop harassing my daughter and asking for money....and idiotic responses to emails!

Yesterday was a terrible day ... therapy in three different cities. I think I put at least 250 miles on the car. Luckily, Husband was off and he drove for the afternoon session...because dummy me ate a salad for lunch...knowing full well what it does to my tummy...and ended up having to take two pain pills. I was in no condition to drive after that.

Then Miss Mia brought her mommy and daddy over for a swim. Although the water is still rather chilly, she really enjoyed her swim! She was not overly happy to get out...but after mommy offered her a warm snuggly towel and dry clothes she decided it wasn't so bad to get out.

We then watched a Braves Baseball game on TV. Unless you are a Braves fan, this part might not make sense...she went to a game just before her birthday. It was part of her present from her other set of grand parents. She thoroughly enjoyed the game...especially the Tomahawk Chop. She not only does the chop, but sings the Ohhhh Ohh Oh oh Ohhhhh...while doing it. AND...when she hears the chant on tv, she starts singing it and chopping! Please don't say the word 'chop' around her because she starts it up! She is so cute!!

I have two dresses to cut out and monogram today...we will see how it goes! LOL. Every day something keeps preventing me. Today...Mr Max decided to get into the garbage while I was taking Mr D to school. I understand the knowledge that chicken bones were too strong to resist...but the broken glass was probably more than he needed... I thought husband had taken out the trash...evidently he did not. So now I have to keep an eye on Mr Max. Not sure if he swallowed any of the glass or not.

Last time he swallowed something he wasn't supposed to it was a fishing hook. After several hundred dollars in vet bills...they lost it! Meaning, it showed up on Xrays, but when they went in to take it out it wasn't there any more!! It did not come out the regular way....as the x rays were last taken after he was sedated for the surgery!

After his scolding for getting in the trash he has stayed away from me...he is in Mr D's bed taking his morning nap.

I see a fun day ahead of me...anyone want to join in? TEN MORE DAYS until



Nini

 

[NiniMorris]

I think I will talk about the Disney trip first...

It seems there may be hope after all for free dining. It seems our dates are covered by the current Free Dining PIN codes that are being sent out. So now all I have to do is hope that I get a PIN code... or that my daughter in law or son get it...since they are more likely to get one than I am!

I really think that Disney should send me a PIN! If I can just figure out a way to convince Disney of that!

To those who were concerned, Mr Max evidently did not suffer any ill effects from the possible glass ingestion... And he even has resumed his habit of thinking the trash can is his own personal smorgasbord! And voices his upset when there is nothing in there for him!

The issue with the Band Director has made me into a mad woman! I refuse to allow her another second in my PTR, so I will not bother with telling you her latest...only that I am over her and her childish actions...but it did become a teachable moment for the family...so in the end we won!

Miss Mia continues to grow! She gained another 4 ounces in the past 4 weeks. While it is not what we had hoped for, she did gain!

School is winding down...one week and two days left! I think this is a case of mom looking forward to it more than the kids! Of course, that means that I will have the Grand Princess starting Monday.

Which brings me to the latest piece of news...I managed to get the dresses cut out and monogrammed yesterday! Now to get them pieced today so they can go to their homes and I can start packing for the beach!

At this point in the Disney planning, there is really little to do. Until the 60 day mark, I cannot do much more. The actual daily plans have to wait until the FP+ are scheduled. I need to speak with someone who has gone recently. My plan was to make our selections for later in the day. Using Rope Drop to plan our mornings. Now with the ability to make additional FP+ only AFTER you have used your previous ones...well, quite frankly, it puts a kink in our plans. If something is important later in the day it will prevent us from making more FP+ selections .... which is when you really need them.

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out. I am hoping that Disney will release their final version of the FP+ soon. There are still a few features that were originally announced that have not been implemented. After a year I was hoping it would all be finalized...oh well.



Time to get the kids up.... so I guess I will go....have a great day! And remember...a little over a week!

Nini