Don't Mess With My Toot Toot!! A Wigd and gang TR/PTR Upd: 12/7 pg.60 Going WILD!

[wigdoutdismom]

We are doing Taste of Chicago tonight too!!! We must plan to meet up!!!!

 

[pooh'smate]

Do you know what this news gets...........

Double WOOT WOOT WOOT WOOT!!!!!

I'd love love love love to meet up with you!!! Let's make a plan!!!

We will have to make a plan when it gets closer and I have more of an idea of my plans.

 

[LookinUp]

We are doing Taste of Chicago tonight too!!! We must plan to meet up!!!!

Nuts, I just saw this! No wonder we didn't see you at Taste last night. Hope you had a ball tonight. We had the best time ever. Great food, gorgeous weather, lots of live music, light crowds. Almost Disney good. If you go again this week, let me know. Or if you think Shocker needs one more thing from the Disney Outlet.

 

[wigdoutdismom]

We could go again Friday night! We have tickets left and I need another rainbow cone!

 

[njtinkmom]

Glad you are enjoying Chicago!! I never have been to the city... I was in Joiliet though (not the prison) at a Nuclear Plant for a safety inspection - but certainly not as exciting as your trip! Although we did stay at a casino....

Can't wait to hear more details from your trip(s) and congrats Jen on your husband's job and hopefully new DVC purchase!!

Waiting not so patiently for my trip to begin!

Just realized my ticker is off - we are really leaving on Saturday so that officially puts me in the SINGLE DIGITS!!!

 

[Happydog]

Timing is everything! It's best to make sure that they've had a couple of drinks and are in a really good mood before bringing up the subject, just a few wise words from the wife of a resister.

OR you could just have Anita ask for you, that's what I did..........

Well he isn't a "resister" I just have to have a "gimmick"!!! We are having a great time at Vero, moving over to Ft. Wilderness and AKL tomorrow!!!

Anita is very convincing... I agree!!!! I will be knocking if I need to!!

 

[MEK]

Ladies - glad you are both enjoying your respective trips/conferences so much!!!! Enjoying all your pix on FB. Yup - never thought I'd say that.

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Mary Ellen, so glad you joined us on FB!

 

[jenjolt]

The three of you looked so nice in that photo. I wanted to do the Cape May seafood, but it wasn't on the days that we will be there. I don't care for crab, just load me up with lobster & shrinp. DH can eat his weight in crablegs.

Lobster and Shrimp hmmmm...haven't had the lobster yet but I do love me some shrimp!! SO GOOD!!!

Ooh, I love the Segway tour plan! So many things I've yet to do. Like experience the glass-floor observation Ledge at the Willis Tower (still the "Sears Tower" to most of us, or, as I like to call it, my personal Tower of Terror). I really want to go, but it's so scary! If you plan to go, think about getting a CityPass to save $$ and skip lines at many attractions, including Shedd Aquarium & Field Museum of Natural History, already on your wish list.

A fun freebie that should be on your must-do list: The Bean. Its official name is Cloud Gate, but it looks like a giant silver kidney bean. Really pretty, and makes cool pics reflecting surrounding buildings, or looking up at the middle of the underbelly from underneath.

When you're not strolling at Taste, you can check out restaurants on OpenTable's diner-voted favorites lists. Or just pick any Lettuce Entertain You restaurant. They're all pretty fab.

Attention, Shocker: Avert your eyes here, as I might happen to go into more "shop talk." Anita, as I'm sure you noted, our only VB outlet is at the Aurora outlet mall, probably the best outlets. But if you're staying downtown, it's a bit of a drive, and rush-hour traffic could make for a looong return trip. Visiting outlets at either Huntley (tiny) or Gurnee (huge!) would let you return via a mall with a Disney store. Just saying ....

Hope your drive tomorrow is smooth & rain-free. Holler (or just PM me) if you need anything else. So excited for you to enjoy Chicago!

Oh, Jen, very excited for you and your prince, with the new job offer. Enjoy your new adventure!!!

Chicago what a wonderful city!!!! I so would love to visit, all of Anita's pictures and everything I have read from you guys just makes me want to get up there even sooner!!!

I so want to do a Segway tour, they look like so much fun!!!!

Joining in!

Congrats to your husband on the job! How exciting!

And I might as well through my guess in there...I say 3554.

WELCOME!!! So glad that you are here!!! Thank you my husband is very happy with his position!!!!!!

Whew! Finally made it over! Great start so far!

Anita: I LOVE Chicago! The Shedd Aquarium is really cool and I had the best.pizza.EVER in Chicago. There really is so much to see and do there! Hope ya'll have a great trip!

They went to the aquarium yesterday and had a blast I'm sure!! I love aquariums of course probably the science teacher in me, I could frolic for hours just watching the animals in the ocean!!!!!!!

 

[jenjolt]

Glad you are having a great time at your conference!
I hope that Wigd and Shocker are having a blast too!

It has definitely been a great week for both parties!! I just made it home last night...after 1 hour in Houston traffic LOL!!! Ridiculous I tell you!!! I had the best time at my conference!

Ugggg, Houston traffic is the worst! I'm always a nervous wreck driving down there.

Sounds like your conference is going really well. Your students are very lucky to have a teacher who is as passionate about what she does as you are

It is the worst!! I thought Dallas was bad (and don't get me wrong it is LOL) but I don't think they have anything on Houston!!! I'm sure traffic is bad in Austin I just have never experienced it LOL!!!!!

Awww thanks Michelle! I'm so fired up right now for the school year! I received such a great training and can't wait to pass that on to my students!!!!

Sounds like you're having a great time!! Have another great day!!

Same to you!!!!

Sounds like you are having a lot of fun at your conference. I am planning a trip (by myself) to Disney in October too and our trips will overlap. We will have to plan a meet.

I already said WOOT WOOT to this right LOL!!!

 

[jenjolt]

Alright I'm coming out of lurkdom. Going to play catch up now

ETA: Okay so I just realized I already read all your updates

Yay so glad you came ouf lurkdom!! WOOT WOOT!! Yup haven't gotten through much so far...just dinner...but after dinner is coming!!!

Great DIS meet picture! We are trying Cape May for the first time in October-I can't wait-I love crab legs!!

It is a great pic!! LOVE it!! Oh you will love Cape May!! YUMMY YUMMY Goodness!!!

I'm in sounds like a crazy fun time



what are the dates of your total trip jen Matt and i will be down 16th-20th we'll be at MK till park close at 7 pm on Sunday but going to MNSSHP on Tues 18th



it's all in the experience I tell you...a right of passage for any Chicagoan or Chi-Suburbinite and traveler alike...

if not to late to guess on the miles I say 2204

Scrappie (Julie)

Let's see, our dates are the 15th through the 19th...we will SO have to meet up!!! I would love to meet up with you WOOT WOOT!!!

Hooray for a new job!

My mom used to teach AP Chem. I think AP teachers are a very special breed. Hopefully you learn a lot at the conference!

Awww thank you so much!! I did learn a lot and am very happy to bring much of it back to share with my fellow teachers and students!!

 

[jenjolt]

Sounds like you are having a great time at the conference. It's always nice to get inspired to do your job better.

My local mall has a Target in it now. Target took over some store that went out of business. I thought it was strange, too, but apparently it works. People can do their upscale, over priced shopping and then go to Target and feel like they got a bargain. Less guilt, perhaps!

I agree! I wish all of my teachers could have gone with me to the conference...what an impact it would have made!!!

And you know what I think you are exactly right Mary Ellen because that is what it did for me!! I didn't buy ANYTHING in the mall, but I did do some shopping in Target LOL!!!!!!!

It was a giant mall!!!! Disney outlet!!! Baylor's back to school shopping is practically done between A&F and Nike outlets! Gap outlet for Hunter! A few other things were purchased too. The car is filling....Oh Harper was the Disney outlet girl!

Can I make a request? Picture of the back of the car when you get ready to leave Hope you have a great Friday in Chicago ENJOY!!!

Jen glad your conference is going so well



and was this up in Gurnee? we have some pretty good (but dangerous...as in shopping $$) outlet malls inthe Chicago area

I'm definitely up for visiting Chicago!! Sounds like an amazing place!!!!

 

[jenjolt]

Glad you're having a great conference!
Can't wait to read more. Now that school is over, I have time for the DIS again.

Lol I know that feeling!!!! I have definitely seen an exponential increase of my DIS time since school has ended LOL!!!

I got the signal and the nudge and the arm twist, trust me!!! LOL! Let me do a little more exploring and number crunching with you all, who knows... we'll SEE. Gotta get the ultimate blessing of course... That man who does the finances... maybe asking to go on another Disney vacation SOLO, in the MIDDLE of another one isn't the BEST strategy... so give me a few days!!!!

Well I'm glad you got all of those I see that Michelle is giving you tips on how to address it with the hubby...hope it works out!! In this household its quid pro quo so I'm sure I'll hear about some hunting/fishing expedition soon enough LOL!!!!

I'm glad we can still be friends even if I root for the "other" team! I was so proud of Thomas, he gives me a massive heart attack all of the time with the way he wanders out of the net but I was SO happy with the way he played!

That is SO exciting about DVC, I swear that if I ever get to own DVC, my home resort will be Beach Club...that is my dream resort

We definitely will consider it sometime. My dad is allergic to shrimp and lobster, but he LOVES seafood and I think Cape May would be right up his alley

LOL yes your team had quite the year and I look forward to seeing how they do in the next season!! With Thomas being a MI boy we have a lot of love for HIM LOL!!!!

We actually have found a couple of contracts that we have talked with the person at Timeshare about and are waiting to see what else comes up. Phil's first paycheck and DVC here we come!!

OOOH Cape May is just delightful!! You will love it!!

I don't know, it very well might be possible to get lost at Gurnee. If not the mall, certainly that parking lot!

So glad you are having so much fun at your conference!

Thanks Cynthia!! How are things going in your neck of the woods!! Did you ever get the email I sent you about places to visit?!?!? I was having some email issues and have just forgotten to check in with you!! If not I will resend it!!!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

I just read that to Marc and he belly laughed!!!! My goodness girl, you are soooo funny!!!!
Can't wait to get us all back to Chicago!!!
Shopping
Trains
Piers
Pizza
Museums
Segways
Cup Cakes
Oh My!!!

 

[jenjolt]

Me three. I loved my harbor-view apartment in Chicago, but the traffic and constant crowds were too much. Now I love taking the train in for ballgames, concerts and tonight, Taste of Chicago. YUM!

Jen, I'm so excited for you, getting so much out of this conference. Your students certainly are lucky!

I'm just not down with lots of traffic not my cup of tea that is for sure! I think I'll just stick to my suburban life.

I'm in! Enjoyed following along with Anita's pics on fb - now can't wait to hear the stories behind them!!

YAYAYAYAY!! So glad that you are here!!!! I just love Anita's FB page!! So much fun always happening there!!

Glad you are enjoying Chicago!! I never have been to the city... I was in Joiliet though (not the prison) at a Nuclear Plant for a safety inspection - but certainly not as exciting as your trip! Although we did stay at a casino....

Can't wait to hear more details from your trip(s) and congrats Jen on your husband's job and hopefully new DVC purchase!!

Waiting not so patiently for my trip to begin!

Just realized my ticker is off - we are really leaving on Saturday so that officially puts me in the SINGLE DIGITS!!!

YOU LEAVE TOMORROW!! WOOT WOOT!!! I hope you have an amazing trip!! Make sure to send over a bat signal if you are doing a TR!! Definitely would love to follow along!!!!!!

 

[jenjolt]

Well he isn't a "resister" I just have to have a "gimmick"!!! We are having a great time at Vero, moving over to Ft. Wilderness and AKL tomorrow!!!

Anita is very convincing... I agree!!!! I will be knocking if I need to!!

Make sure you share the "sale" with us when the time comes LOL

Ladies - glad you are both enjoying your respective trips/conferences so much!!!! Enjoying all your pix on FB. Yup - never thought I'd say that.

YAYAYAY!! Isn't FB the best ever!!! So much fun!! Now time to follow MeMom and her crew while they are down there!!!

I just read that to Marc and he belly laughed!!!! My goodness girl, you are soooo funny!!!!
Can't wait to get us all back to Chicago!!!
Shopping
Trains
Piers
Pizza
Museums
Segways
Cup Cakes
Oh My!!!

LOL!!!!
Chicago won't know what hit it LOL!!!! Can't wait!! What is the plan for today?!?!?

 

[jenjolt]

So you guys ready for an update?!?!!!

Well good times are still happening in Chicago!!!! We will have to get Anita on here to tell us about some of the great things she and Marc were able to do!!! I know she has one more full day of great fun, can't wait to see sneak peaks on FB!!!

I made it home last night and was so glad to have gone to that conference!!! I came away with a lot of valuable information and won free science stuff!! Let's just say that if you were to break into my house right now and you left any spot of DNA I wouldn't need CSI, I could gel electrophoresis your sample myself...of course I don't have the stuff to do PCR but oh well I still would have fun playing mad scientist!!! Well now that I have once again solidified the fact that I give Sheldon a run for his money in the complete geek category...let's talk prizes!!

WE HAVE A WINNER WOOT WOOT ​

So how many miles did the Pacifica travel..... (drumroll please)

4,295 total miles!!!​

So that makes MICKEYMOM our winner!! CONGRATULATIONS!!

Make sure you either PM me or Anita with your address so we can send you your wonderfully themed prize...and what is that prize you might ask!!! Well you have just won your own personal....

Mickey decal!!!!! Hope you like it!! I know I wish I had picked one up for myself...oh well do that in October!!!!

Okay let's get back to our first night together shall we!! Let's see we had just finished dinner and were making plans for the rest of the evening, oh wait there might have been a little incident before that which involved...

As it turns out I may NOT be the only person in the world in LOVE with the flavor orange. I know it shocked me too!!! Apparently Anita also loves that beautiful citrus fruit!! Well I thought all was going to be well when I mentioned that Cape May gives saltwater taffy with the check, I was wrong. Because it became quite obvious in the days proceeding that a fight might ensue over orange taffy. Leg wrestling, that's right if it came down to it a match would be held right in the dining room of Cape May and probably end up on youtube.

Well I'm a libra I believe in peace and balance, so when the check was delivered I did what any good Libra would do....I stole the orange piece before Anita even realized what was happening. That's right that lovely piece of taffy was in my mouth before the shock could even register on her face. LOL....okay to be fair I'm not that devious!! I knew there was another piece of orange taffy under the receipt so I wouldn't have to walk home (oh wait were staying at BCV weren't we ) or not get my KTTW card!! Peace was kept, Anita and I were happy with our orange taffy...don't remember what the others got (Brook feel free to chime in here) however I did walk away from the table with a new reputation as a sneaky thief LOL!!! Must have been my inner Stitch!!

Once all the orange taffy drama was settled it was time to help a friend conquer a mountain of an event!! As many of you know Brook was attempting to do 4 parks, 1 day. Well she just had one park left and that was EPCOT....lucky for us it was right next door and had evening EMH (good planning Brook ) So off we went!! What a nice night, I love walking the BW area at night, it is just stunning!!!

Well as we entered through C's private entrance a CM noticed Brook's Birthday pin and proceeded to walk her to a phone.

WOOT WOOT for special birthday phone calls! I know Brook enjoyed it!!! Then we had to make a plan...you see we had to ride 3 rides and make sure she ate something at EPCOT!! Well Anita and Marc came prepared we had special FP for Soarin' so off we went!! Around this time we met up with another DISer that Brook knew!! So the 6 of us (no pic from me, apparently I was too tried to take pics) heading to Soarin'. We got onto the ride and rode B...row 1...we had GREAT seats!!! I just love Soarin' and of course the orange smell LOL!!!!

After that we rode the Land...it was there and it had no wait! We were hoping for our own boat, but we didn't quite get our wish, however if you ever get the chance YOU have to ride the Land at night. I once again apologize for the lack of MY pictures (I know Anita and Brook took some so I'm going to have to borrow from them) but the Land at night especially the greenhouse is AHHHMAZZZING. I do believe at one point Baylor and I thought about walking around the ride (see what sleep deprivation does to you LOL) but we decided we didn't need to alert Disney Security of our arrival this soon into the trip. The one thing that did stand out at night was the laboratory you can see EVERYTHING inside!! Did you know there is a hidden mickey made out of test tubes in there...I didn't I have ridden that ride more times than I can count and had NEVER seen that!! So very cool!!!

Alright so if we're keeping track it's now 10:55pm we have ridden 2 rides and we have exactly 5 minutes to get into line for another one...any guesses...what ride is close to the Land and never has a long wait....if you guessed NEMO, you are right and it was off to the Seas with us!! We made it just in time and had a good laugh trying to find Nemo and enjoying his friends!!!! The jellyfish room is my fave!!! So like any good ride at Disney it ends up in a gift store and that was the perfect place for Brook to buy some food!! I believe she bought one of those new boxes of candy, the Mine Mine Mine seagull box (right?!?!, man I should have taken notes this trip LOL). And as we left the Seas and headed back to BCV, Brook ate her candies and was a champion!!! WOOT WOOT!! Congrats to Brook You did it!! Thanks for letting us help!!! Well my last coherent thought of the night was man I really should have Baylor push me in a stroller LOL, no it was take a goodnight EPCOT picture!!!

Yes if you are keeping track I managed to take a whopping 2 pictures that whole night LOL!! Jet lag LOL!!! Soon we were in our room, bed was made, and I was off to dream land!!!!! It was a great night!!! I LOVED every minute!!!

Well there you go our first night!!! Hope you all have a wonderful 4th!! To those of you who don't live in Texas I will be jealous (we are under a Fireworks ban) I wonder if I leave tomorrow morning if I can be in KS around the time Anita and crew get back and set off fireworks with them LOL!!!!!

See you soon with our 1st full day together!!!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Come on up! Our neighborhood will be ablaze! We head home tomorrow....

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Oh, today? We are back on the train to downtown. Planning on another Disney store, an Oprah cupcake shop, meeting Lookingup at Taste of Chicago tonight. I'm sure we'll find plenty to do in between!

 

[Lady Lallie]

Boo to the fireworks ban!!

Those first nights in Disney are tough ones, especially if you are tired. I love taffy but only certain flavors and NOT orange, ick. Now I know who to send orange taffy too.