Don't be a Drag, Just be a Queen June 3-18 (MORE PICS ADDED 6/25!)

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

3 weeks until departure!!

14 school days!
13 working days!

 

[bethbuchall]

That is coming up quickly! You'll be home from your trip before my kids are even out of school (well, except for the college kid. He's home now.)

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

That is coming up quickly! You'll be home from your trip before my kids are even out of school (well, except for the college kid. He's home now.)

My friend is a teacher in Kansas and she said today is her last day with students. I am jealous that they get out so early!

There must be something I need to do. Other than decide about PhotoPass.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

PSA for today:

If you do eRewards you may now redeem for flyer miles every 30 days! AirTran credits are $50 each, $25 for a half credit. I just added another half credit to DH's account. For the flight home I will just need to transfer one credit to him (for $19) and he'll have a free upgrade! Which means he can check 2 bags for free!

The upgrade fee is usually $69. I think they charge $45 to check 2 bags. So, $19 to upgrade AND not pay for the bags is a good deal! OK, so it will still cost $69 each for DS and I to upgrade. We would have had to pay $40 to check the rest of the bags anyway, so for DS and I to upgrade doesn't add THAT much.

Cost to sit in coach - $85 in luggage fees.
Cost to sit in business class - $157 (upgrade fees) - $85 (deduct luggage fees) = $72 more to go in Business Class
Oh, but we paid to pick the seats in coach, which was $39. I heard if you upgrade you get the seat selection fee refunded. Which would be $72 - $39 = $33. It is TOTALLY worth $33 more to sit in business class. Of course this is contingent on them having 3 open seats.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Well! I just read you can now purchase DVC discounted APs at the resorts! That is so much more convenient than standing in line at the park to buy them! Very cool!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

The situation with DH's watch is rapidly becoming every bit as vexing as DS's sunglasses. Good thing I have 3 weeks to sort it out.

I have decided we need a signature cocktail for our group. Something with "giraffe" in the title. My friend found this:

The Flaming Giraffe:
Ingredients for a Flaming Giraffe
Kahlua
Butterscotch Schnapps
151 Proof Rum
Quantities for one drink:
2 oz Kahlua
1 oz Butterscotch Schnapps
1 oz 151 Proof Rum
Blending Instructions:
Pour Kahlua first into a double shot glass
Add one ounce of butterscotch schnapps
Float 151 proof rum on top and set on fire
Blow out before drinking

I can't recall ever drinking anything that was on fire a few seconds earlier. I suppose there is a first time for everything. If I knew anything at all about cocktails I might come up with my own giraffe-themed cocktail. Unfortunately, I am not so good with the mixology. We shall see.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

TWENTY DAYS 'til departure!
13 school days!
12 working days!

HOLY COW! It's getting close!

We took DS to the kick-off meeting for the 24 hour video race at midnight. Now he is getting ready to go join the rest of his team. I made him come home and go to bed for 4 hours. I feel like I've been hit by a truck. Good thing I can go back to bed after I drop him off.

He has an eye appt. at 11 AM. Then he goes back to his team, and I will go get a pedicure. Then I will take a nap.

I need to do laundry and clean the house, but I don't want to. I have 2 weekends after this, and they are both 3 day weekends. I will clean then. Probably.

I think I have solved the watch dilemma. Maybe.

 

[Tammi67]

Well! I just read you can now purchase DVC discounted APs at the resorts! That is so much more convenient than standing in line at the park to buy them! Very cool!

Where? Concierge desk? I ask because I have ours PURCHASED, but I will need to pick them up. I wonder if one can do that as well?

BTW, your life exhausts ME. I can't imagine what it must be like to be YOU!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Where? Concierge desk? I ask because I have ours PURCHASED, but I will need to pick them up. I wonder if one can do that as well?

BTW, your life exhausts ME. I can't imagine what it must be like to be YOU!

I *think* at the lobby concierge. Not sure if the concierge in the lounge can do it or not. I am also not sure about vouchers. Remind me to ask when I get there.

I am too old to run around after midnight and get up at 5 AM. But the video race is really cool. I think DS will have a blast with it.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

DS's eye appt. went great. No issues, his vision is 20/15, eye surface is healthy. He is officially cleared for contacts! They said it will take 3-5 business days to get the order, so plenty of time before we leave.

The kids finished the video project. Hopefully they will make it to the Finish line with the flash drive by midnight. I am not involved with that aspect of it. They did a great job with it, and they all had fun. Next year they will know what to expect, so they will be able to plan a bit better.

I never did make it to get a pedicure. Maybe tomorrow.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

My ticker is in the TEENS!!

19 days 'til departure
13 school days
12 working days

I looked at the calendar yesterday and realized we are REALLY busy next weekend. Which means I REALLY need to clean today. Yuck. Maybe I'll start with some laundry.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

DS was standing in the kitchen earlier. As I was looking at him it occurred to me that he looked taller. So I ordered him to stand against the kitchen wall where we measure his height. He has grown more than an inch since the last pencil mark.

He may end up being too tall to meet the height restrictions for WDW Entertainment on the short end and too short for the minimum on the tall end. That would kind of suck. I guess he better start thinking about other roles in the College Program he might be interested in!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I still haven't made a decision about PhotoPass.

Apparently I need to go buy a STACK of "Congratulations" cards for all the people who are graduating from high school. We are amassing quite a pile of announcements. Looks like I have more stuff to do before we leave than I thought.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

DS posted on his FaceBook status asking his friends if they like him better with glasses or contacts. And all of them so far have said glasses. I just paid for a 6 month supply of contacts. He's going to be wearing contacts.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I have a "thing" about doing my spreadsheet by hand. No computer print-outs. I have a certain way I draw out the days, list the park we'll go to, the hours, the crowds levels, the ADRs for the day, and any special events. Of course things get added and scratched out as time goes by. I sat today and made a new sheet with all of our updated plans, so that's done.

Still haven't decided on PhotoPass.
Still have no plans on June 13 after the fishing excursion.
Still have no plans for departure day. We usually fly out in the afternoon so that ME picks us up right about the time we have to check out of the villa. This year our flight is later, so we'll have a chunk of time to do something. I just don't know what.

As soon as DH's Chase statement closes I need to order the Rewards card. I know I can do that at the parks. I might just wait. I'll have to think about that some more.

Next weekend I will pack. Packing Mandate states we must be packed in full 12 days prior to departure. Good thing our hall resembles an airport runway. As I fill the suitcases we line them up along the wall.

I had considered getting DS a passport. I didn't realize that before he can get a learner's permit he has to take like 32 hours of classroom instruction for driver's ed. Um, hello? He has no time for that. And he doesn't care about driving. Which is good, because I don't care if he NEVER learns to drive. Hence the passport, because I have no idea when he might get a driver's license. But no, nothing about obtaining a photo ID can be logical.

DH and I would BOTH have to go with DS (or we have to have a notarized form saying the other person KNOWS DS is getting a passport). We could take him on a Friday when DH is off. The passport office is only open when DS is at school. So we have to take him out of school to get a passport? How STUPID is that? OK, since we aren't traveling internationally or going on a cruise we'll just skip the ID for now. I did find his birth certificate after I realized it wasn't where it was supposed to be.

Strangely enough, I also ran across the receipt and the service plan for DH's watch today! And I discovered 2 things. The service plan I bought was MUCH better than the one they offer now, which is obviously how the woman talked me into buying it. AND that serice plan was only valid for 2 years. It's expired.

 

[nyc2theworld]

Wanna write my pre-trip report?

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Wanna write my pre-trip report?

You are doing just fine on your own!

 

[scottny]

Hi,
We will be there too. Arrive late on the 3rd. MK on the 4th. DHS on the 5th and then Epcot on the 6th before going home that night.
I cannot wait. Of course these plans could change. LOL
We r also at Jambo. I cannot wait. my first gay days and star wars weekends.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Hi,
We will be there too. Arrive late on the 3rd. MK on the 4th. DHS on the 5th and then Epcot on the 6th before going home that night.
I cannot wait. Of course these plans could change. LOL
We r also at Jambo. I cannot wait. my first gay days and star wars weekends.

Hi, Scott!

Stop by Victoria Falls when you arrive at Jambo! We're meeting around 9 PM. I know last year some of our group was still there after the bartenders went home!
We're also meeting for Dole Whips at 4 PM Saturday if you would like to stop by.
It's going to be so much fun! Can't wait!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Holy cow!

18 days 'til departure!
13 school days!
12 working days!

DS has a MONSTER Biology packet due on May 31. It is going to take him forever to finish it, and I am going to have to HOUND him. He started it yesterday, but he'll have to work on it EVERY day if he is going to get it finished. Blah.