"Do You Mind?" - Disney Adventures with Teens August Trip Report

[Grandma Bonnie]

Bonnie, it sounds like you and Katie are having a wonderful time. You must love spending special time with her! By the way if Susan doesn't want the placemat and such I would be happy to take them off her hands!
Diane

Susan, I hope all is well and that you had a safe trip home!
Diane

My granddaughters and I are the original "Shopping Soulmates." Katie said yesterday that we were such a good match because we have patience with each other.

I just like to say that whenever I am with my grandchildren is a special time. I never "babysit." Instead, I call it "making memories."

I must update you on some family news so that you won't think Susan is slacking off with her entries.

We learned early yesterday morning that her sole surviving grandmother is hospitalized in Jackson, Tennessee. Her name is Shelby. She is Susan's father's mother (my 'mother-in-law' from my married days.... but we have remained very close throughout the years. We are in the sisterhood of "former teachers.")

Apparently, Shelby suffered two separate strokes. She is very frail. Shelby's birthday is next Wednesday. She will be 91.

My other daughter, Joann, has been driving between Memphis and Jackson daily to be with her dad, stepmother, and Shelby at the hospital. Joann has a lot of experience with medical conditions by virtue of her experience in the field of Special Education. She had been keeping us updated on Shelby's condition.

Susan has decided to fly up to Tennessee this weekend to see her grandmother. So I exchanged my Sunday return ticket to Friday and will fly back home with her.

In the meantime, I'm sitting here in Susan's media room surrounded by Disney books that she wants me to read while I'm here. So, farewell, all. It's time for me to read, read, read.

 

[swwake]

I was going to post a quick fly-by, but I just noticed that Mom already did. Life has gotten hectic here. I do want to post the happenings because it's all part of chronicling what all goes into planning this trip and I think everything adds color.

Between my work (55+ hours a week), 2 hours of dance lessons weekly, trying to keep up with being a Mom, the trip to New Orleans (which was supposed to be business/pleasure, but because of flight issues, I missed the business meeting and it became all pleasure - good and bad, because I didn't get any work done), and more, I have been too busy to do much Disney plannning.

I feel guilty because I really want to get back here and post replies to some of your comments on our PTR. I love comments and don't want to discourage them by not being responsive. I will come back soon and post responses. I also am a regular reader of other PTRs and TRs and I want to respond to them, but it is hard to steal away a few minutes of a day to do this.

Mom will tell you that last night it took an hour or so to research emergency flights, lodging, car rental, etc, and my eyelids were so heavy I thought I'd fall asleep sitting up. Plus, all the stress makes me grumpy. Mom will probably tell you that too.

At least I got my shipment of about 10 pair of Reefs. So I will not be sandal-less this summer. That was a highlight. And I have two cases of Metromint on the way. Always a crowd-pleaser.

On top of everything, Magic's teeth are awful. She doesn't have bad breath, but her teeth and gums look uncomfortable. I think after we get them cleaned this Friday, she will feel much better. And Harry is due for shots and bloodwork, so we'll take care of that tomorrow too.

It's a good thing Katie is on Spring Break this week, because it means we don't have our schedule cluttered with school, tutoring, and lacrosse practice. Next week, it's back to normal...

Also, next week I have to go to Jacksonville for 2 days - another busy week. Anyway, that's the scoop. I promise to post soon.

 

[dddisrunner]

Take your time Susan! So sorry to hear about your Grandmother
Diane

 

[swwake]

Diane -thanks for the hugs!

I think I just realized I have a pack-a-day habit....

Orbit Bubblemint!!

 

[Grandma Bonnie]

'Mom will tell you that last night it took an hour or so to research emergency flights, lodging, car rental, etc, and my eyelids were so heavy I thought I'd fall asleep sitting up. Plus, all the stress makes me grumpy. Mom will probably tell you that too."

Yes, I can attest to Susan's occasional "grump." But I have to say that she is very respectful of me 99.9% of the time. She was a very tired gal with lots of unexpected and unplanned things to do.

"At least I got my shipment of about 10 pair of Reefs. So I will not be sandal-less this summer."

I never knew that I gave birth to a centipede!

I don't know what happened to the yellow box to surround Susan's words. Sorry

 

[Donald is #1]

I'm so sorry to hear about your Grandmother.

 

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

Hey Swwake!
Well, now I can see why you wrote in my PTR you didn't have time nor energy to write much!
I'm sending you lots of !

Thanks for taking the time to write the little you did!

I really enjoy reding your 2 in 1 PTR (didn't I already tell you that?! well, yeah, I'm tired too, as you know!).

Until next time!

 

[Grandma Bonnie]

Hello Friends,

This is just an update for all. As I write this Susan's sister is taking her to the airport to fly back home to Austin. We have spent the past weekend in Jackson, Tn. with Susan's grandmother, Shelby.

Shelby was brought home from the hospital Friday evening and is resting peacefully at Susan's father's home.

This weekend, she was visited by all three of her sons, all three of her granddaughters, four of her great-grandchildren, a great-niece, and three daughters-in-law. They came from East Georgia, South Florida, West Tennessee, and Austin.

We had an early birthday party for her yesterday. Her birthday is Wednesday. She seemed aware of folks in the room and that a birthday party was taking place. However, she tired easily and slept in short cat-naps throughout the day.

As if this weekend wasn't trying enough on Susan's work schedule, physical health and her emotions, when she got all the way to the gate to catch her flight home, she learned that it was canceled. So I returned to pick her up at the terminal and she spent the night with me and went home today.
Well, that's the latest. Just wanted y'all to know.

 

[swwake]

I am home. Now I'm getting back into Disney mode. I have WAY too many subscriptions! I think I'm over 50 now. Just checked out some EE and RNR videos on You Tube. Don't do that if you don't want to spoil surprises! Just a tip!

 

[swwake]

Another dream about WDW last night, and this time we were at Epcot. I will have to type that one up later. This post will remind me.

Also, I am starting to wonder if 8 days is just not enough time. Especially with the crowds and lines we will likely encounter in August

Mom and I have already (briefly) discussed bounce-back.

 

[dddisrunner]

Hey Susan! I am always one for adding on days, seeing as I added 2 to my original plan But...if you will be there after the 15th the crowds will be VERY tolerable. In 2006 we were there from August 16th to the 28th and the crowds were soooo non-existent. The heat got to us before the crowds did!

 

[Planning fanatic mom]

Thanks for talking about the crowds in August. I'm seriously thinking about going next year at that time.

Take your time with posting, I always find it worth the wait.

Sorry to hear about all the drama. Isn't it great to have Disney to think about?

Happy Easter!

 

[Grandma Bonnie]

Here I am recovering from an unplanned trip to an endodontist. I just had my first "root canal" in 6.5 decades! Yes, there's always a "first time" for everything, no matter how old you are.

I have a picture of how I looked last weekend when my jaw began to swell, but I'm not savvy enough to know how to post it here. So you'll just have to imagine a little old silver haired lady with a swollen jaw. Yep, that's me!

I may be in some discomfort, but I've been through a broken arm, tonsilectomy, childbirth twice, a kidney stone, and a severe bout of pseudomembraneous colonitis, so I know that this, too, shall pass.

We are still monitoring Susan's grandmother's illness. She continues to "hang in there", but she also continues to weaken. Her "conversations" are fewer and farther between. She is such a sweet, dear part of all of our lives and we hate to see her this frail and fragile. However, she continues to teach us by going through this with her pride and dignity on constant display.

As much as Disney is something to look forward to, it's times like this that also brings a family together. And we know that our trip to WDW will help heal our hearts.

Today, thanks to the root canal, I am on a liquid diet. Sure wish I had a Dole Whip handy. I got as close as I could to one by getting a milkshake at Baskin Robbins. (Historic Side Note: When Susan was a young teen, we went on a two week cruise throughout the Caribbean to Venezuela and back. One of the passengers was Mr. Baskin of the ice cream chain. He was truly the Pied Piper for all the kids on the ship. We must get Susan to tell you about him in a future entry.)

That's all from me at this time. I'm going to fix some chicken noodle soup and take another Aleve. Or Two!!!!

 

[swwake]

Today, thanks to the root canal, I am on a liquid diet. Sure wish I had a Dole Whip handy. I got as close as I could to one by getting a milkshake at Baskin Robbins.

NOT on the diet!!!

 

[Donald is #1]

I'm going to fix some chicken noodle soup and take another Aleve. Or Two!!!!

Hope you feel better, but didn't they give you anything stronger than Aleve?

 

[Grandma Bonnie]

NOT on the diet!!!

Yes, I know. But MY JAW HURTS!!! And I need liquid nutrition! And the scales told me this am. that I've lost a total of 18 pounds!!!!!

 

[Grandma Bonnie]

Hope you feel better, but didn't they give you anything stronger than Aleve?

Aleve is all! But he did give me his cell phone # in case I needed something stronger during the holiday weekend. Actually, I'm so used to the pain that this is just more of the same. Thanks for caring.

 

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

Just catchin' on...
Sorry for your pain Grandma Bonnie... I'm right there with you and sending you positive thoughts

Happy Easter to all your family!

 

[swwake]

I got a pretty cool book from Amazon today. It is called "2008 Mouse Map: The Ultimate Walt Disney World Map Guide" by Anne S Easterling. Doesn't appear to be published by any major publishing house (rather possibly printed on a color printer?), but it is a handy small size with a spiral binder. The maps have little check boxes that I assume you can use to check off what you want to see, or maybe check off after you have seen them. I will have to read the book to figure out how it's intended to be used.

Here's a pic of the book:

I like it because it's kinda laid out like a flow chart. The map has little boxes at the approximate location of each attraction, restaurant, etc. Seems more clear than anything else I've seen in the map department.

There are also tips inside, so I'll be checking those out.

Just adding a little Disney Magic to my day. I love deliveries!!

 

[Grandma Bonnie]

What another book? How many does that make in your WDW library now? You are going to be sooooo overread. Don't get "burned out" before we go!

Now an update on my dental situation......I can now officially be called a WIMP!!

I gave in to the pain and called the endodontist (I love using multisyllabic terms! Can't you tell? It makes people think I'm smart!!! or snooty!!! or nerdy, etc. etc. etc.)

Anyway, I asked for the pain relief. Aleve just didn't do the trick. I hate popping pills, but couldn't function w/o them this time.

The oral surgery was Friday, today is Monday and I'm still sore. But i'll always have Disney to take my mind off of it until the Lortab kicks in. Then I'll have visions of princesses, fairies, and Prince Charmings dancing in my head. (Wonder why those Princes are all young hunks. Hasn't anyone ever considered creating a Prince who is a little more age appropriate for us Senior Citizen Gals? I refuse to be a cradle robber. Bring on Prince Sugar Daddy!!!) (Guess the pain pill has kicked in!!!!!)