EWP group?

[colleen costello]

Hi everyone! Taking a break from packing and planning to say HI! Thanks for the send-off Lisa... Ladies, I was really stressing yesterday (my normal pre-trip anxiety attack) and Rider sent me the BEST photos to make me feel better... All different shots of the "Tiki Gods" from the Poly. Of course just the sight of these guys made me smile... Especially the shot of the famed 'Ohana "butt tiki" -- the one with the fanny that shows. We always visit this guy whenever we visit the Poly. He offers the closest thing to nudity you'll ever find at WDW, I suppose! Anyhow, today I got started on loading the suitcases and I feel a lot better. I have made (at Linda's recommendation) a great master list on my computer and I am working off that. I have also realized that Orlando is not a "remote" destination and if I forgot anything major, I can buy it there.

I hope you all have a great week while I am gone. If the Wilderness Lodge has internet hookup I will try to post from WDW. Will share pics when I get back. Maybe I will recognize Caroline in a line for a ride! I have my lime-green Mickey ears on my bag to ID me as a DIS-er.

Linda, I received an Email form you but it was blank... It warms my heart to know I am not the only person who struggles with technology! I often send letters that friends tell me have no words or pics... I just took the message as "thinking of you," so thanks!

xoxo

 

[lunabkat]

hi all

Well the flu kicked my butt for the last two weeks and i am finally feeling close to normal, thank goodness the girls and dh didn't get it. My firend from RI sounded a lot better over the phone the last couple times we talked, i hope she is feeling better and trying to work out her situation, thanks for all of your kind words.

Linda, has Austin ever been tested for Central Auditory Processing Disorder? It runs on my husbands side of the family and, in a nutshell, the person can hear as far as loudness goes but the clarity of what they hear can be very "fuzzy". What happens is the more voices there are the more buzzy they get, it is hard for them to filter out background noise and they can't understand what is being said. Does he withdraw with larger groups of people, even family, where noise level can be high shich makes it much more difficult to make out what anyone is saying? I ask because it is very hard for these people to hear what is being said clearly, especially in a classroom situation where lots of kids are almost always talking, and then to add insult to injury, the child starts to feel like they are stupid and stop trying because they are sure it is their brain, when it is really their hearing. My sil is a leader in the field on this subject and there are two very good programs that are made for these children one is FastForword and the other is Metronome. Unfortunately they are expensive to run but perhaps the school system can help. Alot of times the children who are borderline are left behind because the schools have limited funds for children with special needs and the ones who are worse off often get the help while the borderline children are left to fend for themselves unless they have parents (or other family) who know of the disorder and can push them thru for help. My dd5 has it to some extent, of course not enough for the school system to help, she would have to be practically autistic for that, but having my dsil we are going to run her thru the programs this summer and again next year.

I hope this might help. Talk later, love to all.

LL

 

[IASW Rider]

BON VOYAGE, COLLEEN!!!!!!!!!!! Wishing you and your family a fantastic, magical, special trip!

Hi Lauralee! So glad to hear that you're feeling better! And also glad to hear that your friend in Rhode Island sounded much better when you spoke with her recently, too.

I have a friend who has a 3 year old son, whom I believe has Central Auditory Processing disorder. They realized it when they saw that he was behind in learning to speak and to respond to them nonverbally (and verbally) as was appropriate for his age. He is now in a full-time program at a school that I believe is dedicated to such disorders, and they say that he is doing really well there, and will eventually catch up to all of the other children his age.

We are having the weirdest weather here in the Garden State, this week. It was literally 63 degrees and beautiful here on Monday.........and then there was a mini-blizzard with 50 mph winds and 20 degree temperatures here, yesterday! The temperature literally dropped over 30 degrees between yesterday morning and afternoon!

I have the first of my mid-terms tonight - the "easier" of the 2. The second is after spring break, in 2 weeks, but I'll need all next week to prepare for it! Today is Frank's birthday - we're hoping to get some celebrating time in, when I get home from my class - I hope that I can finish the exam in less than 3 hours!

Hope that all is well with all of you and hope that you're all having a nice week!

 

[colleen costello]

Bye everyone! I will post from Orlando or once I get back. Hope everyone has good weather (no more winter!) while I am gone!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Colleen, if you should see me standing along 46 just before the 65 on ramp with my bag in hand and DIS lime green t shirt on will you take me along? How I wish I could. If I cannot the next best thing is to have one of my Suite Mates going though. I know you are going to have a blast! LOL on the empty email, it might have been your filter as I remember it was a tiny bit ornery. Or it might have fallen out on its way to you. LOL Butt Tiki huh? Sounds like a great screensaver to me. Rider knows the best details.

Lisa, it seems as if Spring is playing with us much as a cat plays with a string. Same weather here. I am supposed to go to Ohio for a few days next week but am waiting to see what the weather has in store. It is also Spring Break here, which I was not informed of, so the boys are rooting for bad weather so grandma is available. LOL Dalton just called to give me a report on Mt. St. Helens. He also read a book he had written to me but gave an excuse for its brevity because he was only six then. I agreed that that was when he was but a mere child. ROTF I am glad to hear that you have sufficient time to study for your harder test. Do you ever cram like crazy for a test and then promptly forget the info afterward? I used to be awfully guilty of such and still am if it is information that I am not interested in. May Tasha continue to live long and prosper!! Frank is having another birthday? Seems as if he just had one. LOL Time flies when you are having fun. Bet you have something special planned. You are the queen of celebrations. (I am sure that a new garage door opener is not his present)

Luna, I am sorry to hear that you were so sick. Were you able to take some time off work to recuperate? Please do not try to do too much or you might relapse and we would not want that. Did your bathroom get completed? I do believe it is worse to have a non operating bathroom than a kitchen even. I have been there and with only one. When we moved here where we have 2.5 baths I thought I had died and went to heaven. (until it it time to clean them all) My Austin has an eye condition called Nystagmus which makes it harder to focus. Another problem is the lack of time or opportunity or even the incentive to study. He is destined to be a farm boy which would not be so bad if there were not a real chance that there will not be a farm someday. I worry, hopefully for nothing. I used to tutor him until the day he decided that grandma did not know that 2 plus 2 was 4. He did not believe it was so. You cannot teach unless the student wants to learn. I decided that he needed to get help elsewhere under the assumption that having to pay for such services would mean he would be more regular in attendance and focus. I was wrong. Being hard of hearing myself I can relate to what CAP must be like though. I had a student once that was in sore need of glasses and that was a big help. Sometimes students with such needs are ignored or just plain fall between the cracks. You can demand services for your child but I fear in today's economy it will be even harder to get it and if you irritate the school system/teacher too much it can cause other problems. Very frustrating. (BTW , I do know how to punctuate, am just too darned tired and lazy)

Caroline, I am afraid that I am going to have to ask for ID. I will buy that you are an extremely talented and focused young person but when you speak about the high prices of theater tickets and taste of popcorn I gotta wonder. LOL The hair thing is not too big of a deal cause I still have so much of it. Also when you get to be my age you do not worry too much about what you look like. Clean is all I aspire to nowadays. You are totally correct in that people need to be the best themselves that they can rather than compete to be like other people. My grandkids are loved and that is all anyone needs to survive. I am a big proponet of education and a different kind of parent (very old fashioned) so I worry but then I worry about everything. LOL I read that 99% of what you worry about does not happen so I worry about it all so it will NOT happen. Off to speak to your dad? If you are not asking for an increase in your allowance or something I am going to be very concerned. (great big grin)

Becky, was that your dh who helped the woman who was involved in domestic battery recently? What he must see in the scope of his job. Bet you see even more. I told a couple of local friends about how we met. IASW!!!!

I am sorry to be so far behind but I did not get any notices and then I went to bed at 5:30 last night cause I was worn out. You know I am tired when I do not turn the computer on all day. I have the bottom of the upstairs hall almost done now so I am going to remove the tarp from the dining room table. About time.

SG/Linda

 

[colleen costello]

Girls, it is the morning of the trip and I am so excitd I can hardly function. I slept like a log, thank goodness (actually thank prescription meds, bless my doctor's heart!) and now I am ready to party! Linda, we only stop for hitch-hikers who love Disney. If you see us pass, jump on. You'll recognize the antenna ears!

Everyone have a great week and I will post form Orlando if I can.

xoxo

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Colleen, I don't need no mouseears I would remember the big smile. LOL If I did not have two fellers who are in sore need of me right this minute I would gladly jump in back with all the luggage and happily serve as your own private Fairy Godmother for those evenings when you and your dh wanted to go out on your own. Staying in and reading to children is magical for me.

Have a safe and wonderful trip and whatever you do, do NOT pass up any fun to post anything. We will wait, maybe not patiently, but we will wait.

SG/Linda

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

There were big doings in our tiny town last night. Sirens and a huge parade of honking cars driving back and forth on the 4 streets of town. (just kidding I think we have six streets LOL) Our boy's team made it to the regionals and they won their two games on Saturday. If (when) they win their game next weekend they will be just one game away from a State championship. Our girls team is headed in the same direction. I went shopping for red and black ribbons to decorate my front porch today. Got to show team spirit!!!! My grandsons dressed for the occasion. They bought huge afro wigs. Scary thing was how much they looked like me with all that wild hair. LOL

I hope the weekend was good to each and everyone of you. Pixie dust going out to Colleen and her crew as they soak up that Florida sunshine and wander the magical streets of DW. (did you finally make it to EPCOT by yourself?)

Slightly Goofy/Linda

 

[TalkisCheap]

Sounds like quite a parade, SG!!! We're in the same boat here, only no parades - we're rooting for the two catholic high schools{where my sister goes{for girls}, and the one i'm going to{for boys} tonight is the western maine finals for both...they were postponed due to the bazillion feet of snow we CONTINUE to get hard to believe this time in a month i'll be into track season...i wonder if it'll actually start on time!!

So yes, I'm back from florida! I have been for a couple days...it was so nice. I hate being back!! Perfect weather, not a lot of lines, loved the beach club, good food...everything was perfect! Except for wanting to stay longer!! But like I said{i think?} it was cut short by my brother getting his tonsils removed. He's alright, although he had to go back to school yesterday as classes start again for him today...he's alright for sitting doing nothing, but he still has a hard to talking and the only solid foods he's had are mashed potatoes and eggs...so, hopefully he'll get through the worst of it! He's coming home in...a week and a half again for his easter break.

SG, I laughed about your needed to see an ID comment. And no, it wasn't a boost in my allowance...I wouldn't get that anyway! And I certainly don't need it...I'm much more of a saver than a spender! My friends make fun of me because we'll go shopping and I always leave with nothing, or one thing. I'm not stingy, when it comes to gifts I give people nice gifts...I just don't splurge on myself, I have everything I need! I just went to talk to him because he had just gotten home from miami. Or maybe it was las vegas? I forget when I posted...he's gone most weeks on business.

Colleen, I'm so sorry I missed you in the world, and to wish a bon voyage! I'm you're weather is much better than here...25 with 3 feet of snow on the ground...I have a feeling it is have a great time!

Well, I have to go finish getting ready because I have to babysit for a few hours this morning. Then we'll have to finish some school before I'm off to volunteer at a soup kitchen and then we leave from there to go to the basketball games! I love keeping busy...it makes the days till track go by so much faster!! Have a great day everyone!

Caroline~*

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Caroline, you have no idea what it is for me to read your adventures and thoughts. I love my dd more than life itself but she decided I was dumber than a box of rocks when she was about ten and it has not improved much since. It tore my heart out to watch her making so many poor choices but I stuck right in there and am still hanging around. It could be so much worse though as she did have a life altering moment a few years back and had some fear instilled in her which has greatly improved her chances at a happy life. It is the delight of my life to have grandkids who enjoy talking to me and I love being able to be available for whenever they need someone to talk to. I had one call this morning at 7 and will probably hear from one or both of them late tonight as well. Who else but a grandma has such the luxury of time? LOL You have such a head start on a wonderful and rewarding life and I cannot help but think that not only do you have a fantastic family but that you deserve much credit for taking your advantages and making the most of them. I like the balance I see between work, play and doing for others. Life is all about balance. I sometimes lose mine but I get back up and try again.

I am sorry that your trip was not longer but is any trip truly long enough? LOL I have a friend (young) who is having his tonsils taken out tomorrow. He is a teenager who works at the Community Center and will be recuperating at home alone as his parents have to work. Wanna bet he will end up on my couch? LOL He is a cousin of my grandsons. Better stock up on some smooth flavors of ice cream. Best wishes to your local teams. I can say that since they are not in the running against our Jets. (grin) I put up the black and red ribbons and made some posters for my front porch this morning.

I have a bunch of small stuff to do today to get ready for our trip. We are going to Amish country in Ohio. Not much to do there this time of year and I would prefer to go later but my sister and her hubby want to go now and being an obedient older sister I must comply. LOL

A great Monday to all your Suite people.

SG/Linda

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Just had to drop by and tell you all the news. I had to go out to the school to pick up my oldest grandson to take him to the funeral home. One of his best friend's grandmother died. As I was getting out of my car Becky was getting out of hers so we had a small Suite Meet. Wish you all could have been there.

BTW, they do not call me SG for naught, I was at the wrong school! LOL Is what happens when I get called at the last minute and do not have time to engage my brain. I had to drive a few hundred feet to the right school. (shaking head in shame)

SG/Linda

 

[twinscandc]

Hello Everyone!!

I'm sorry it's taken so long for me to chime in!! My whole family has been sicker than dogs, including myself!! I'm finally feeling better. One of DD's was out of school last week for 3 days....The doc has said that it was a combination of the flu and sinus infections!! I'm so glad to be amongst the land of the living again!! For the past two weeks, I've either been wiping my nose, or other "areas"!!

SG - I was so happy to see you today!! It sure was a good surprise!! LOL about the wrong school!!! But, you know, if you would have gone to the right school, we would have not run into each other today!! So, really, it was the "right" school!! Again, it was so good to see you today!! Certainly a high point of my day!!

I'm soooooooo ready for Spring weather!! It cannot get here soon enough!! I love to watch all the buds come out on the trees and the flowers start to bloom! The Easter Holiday is my favorite!!

SG - Have fun on your trip next week to Ohio. We've visited the Amish country here in Northern Indiana. Have you ever been up to that area?

Well, take care everyone!! I'll check back in later!! I now have to go put a desk together, while I'm watching the Travel Channel story on Disney that I taped earlier today!!

Becki

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Hey, Becki!! What a wonderful and unexpected surprise to see you today. I had been wondering what had happened to you. There sure is a bunch of 'stuff" going around is there not? I am on so many meds that I do not get simple colds and such. I used to get pneumonia all the time but have avoided it the last couple of years. (keeping my fingers crossed) You looked fully healed today and I am glad of that as I am sure are your clients.

It was the cars fault that I went to the wrong school. My grandson goes to study club after school at the high school and that is where I am used to picking him up from. In case you were wondering, I did not go to the funeral with him. I offered but he wanted to sit with his friend. Is why I was not dressed up. Even I am not that much of a hick to go dressed as I was. I was in the middle of wallpapering so it was a miracle that I was relatively clean.

Yes, we have been to Indiana Amish country quite a bit. Have you ever been to Bear Creek Farms? If not I will have to tell you about it as it is a cheap and fantastic mini getaway for the family. I am planning on taking a grandkid up with me this summer. We used to take the older one. Do you do the Shipshewanna flea market? I have so much stuff already that I do not like to shop much. (hope that does not appall everyone else here and they boot me out)

So you are the handy person in your family as well? As long as you have a Disney show to watch you will not suffer too much though.

SG/Linda

 

[colleen costello]

Greetings from the Wilderness Lodge! Scott signed up for the internet connection and here we are. We are having a nice time. We had two great nights at Carribean Beach which was a very pleasant surprise. The resort was bright and fun and they gave us a preferred room with a beach and lake view, right by the food court. My Mom checked us in and I think they were kind to us because they saw the cane she uses... In any case, we had a great two nights there and the kids spent a lot of time swimming and playing on the beach. We could see them right out the window. At night we could see the Illuminations fireworks out above the trees.

We moved to the Lodge Sunday and I was thrilled to have our room ready at noon. Blame Mom again. When you make medical requests they seem to take them seriously and a room had been assigned to us and was waiting. For those of you who have been here, there is a topiary Mickey with a DVC sign at the Villas entrance. We are on the second floor right above this sign and every night before bed I look out the window at Mickey's fanny. I got a great picture of the kids on our balcony with Mickey in the foreground and I can't wait to share it with all of you! The Lodge is so beautiful and our friends are meeting us here today. They are checking into Pop Century but will hang out with us here today. I am trying to make Disney fans of them!

The evidence of the hurricanes is all around. Trees must be gone because you can see things you couldn't see before... When you leave the Lodge, before you turn to head out the driveway, there is a woods. It used to be very thick. Now we noticed you can see the Contemporary thru these woods at night! We also caught a glimpse of the Animal Lodge roofs on the drive in, thru woods that were obviously thinned. While the resorts lookk perfect, on the roads to Epcot and off the monorail line you can see lots of trees bent and downed branches. It makes me realize all that went on here last fall!

My Dad is waiting for his turn on the computer so I will sign off. I am thinking of all of you and will share details after we are home. Love to all!

xoxo

 

[IASW Rider]

Hi Everyone!

Thanks for checking in, Colleen! It's always exciting to hear from a Suite-Mate while she is away in the Land of Magic! So glad to hear that you and your family are enjoying your trip, so far, and that you had such a great experience at Caribbean Beach! I know that you all will love the Wilderness Lodge, as always, and hope that you and your friends have a great time when you all get together, today!

Linda - I know that Frank was in touch with you, but please forgive me if it has taken me this long to thank you and Tom so much for thinking of him and remembering his Birthday! Last week was so hectic that I literally can't remember whether I thanked you myself - so please forgive me if I did not until now! It was so nice of you both to think of Frank!

And it's so nice that you and Becki had a surprise mini-meet, a few days ago! Though I am sorry to hear about Austin's friend's grandmother.
How was your trip to the Ohio Amish country? I didn't realize that there were Amish countries in Ohio and Indiana. My Aunt and cousin used to live in Lancaster, PA, where there is a substantial Amish community. We loved going to visit them and always came home with wonderful, home baked Amish pastries and home made crafts!

So glad to hear that you and your family are feeling better, Becki! And which Travel Channel Disney special did they recently show? I keep forgetting to check their schedule to see when the Disney programs are on - I know that there were several broadcast recently!

WELCOME BACK, CAROLINE! So glad to hear that you and your family had a nice trip! Tell us all about it! Did you all do anything "new", that you'd never done before? Ride or "attend" any attractions that you'd never experienced before? Eat in any restaurants that you'd never tried before? Visit all of your traditional favorite parks / rides / attractions / resorts?

All has been well, here! We had a fun weekend, celebrating Frank's birthday with my father and uncle and on our own, too! And I had a very productive Matron of Honor dress shopping excursion with my friend from college (who is getting married in September), yesterday - it was a lot of fun! We found a great dress, right off the bat, but I had fun trying on a bunch of bridesmaid's dresses! I haven't been in a wedding in several years and I really enjoy sharing in the planning and excitement!

Hope that all is well with all of you and hope that you all had a nice weekend!

 

[TalkisCheap]

SG/Becky - that is so funny you guys ran into each other! I sure wish some of you dissers lived by me the closest I know is Amanda who lives somewhere in NH Oh well, I plan on meeting all of you one day!

Colleen, so glad you're having a good time so far! I'm so jealous...I want to go back!!! I know what you mean about the hurricane being apparent...well, we thought that was what was up at the yacht/beach club. Lot's of shingles gone on the roof, a whole part of the yacht club had scaffolding.

Rider - we did LOTS we didn't do before! Last year we did hardly anything...I think I FINALLY might be getting through to my parents how fun WDW is...it helped there were not many lines...my parents HATE waiting in lines. Anyway, I went on splash/space mountain, TOT, RnR all for the first time. We also ate at The Rose and Crown and the San Angel Inn for the first time, as well as the ESPN club and spoodles, and got a No Way Jose at Beaches and Creme. We loved all of it! Next year I hope we have more time...there are so many rides I didn't go on/restuarants I want to try! Oh well, every year you do something new!!

We might be going back in novemeber or january...we're still debating about it. My parents said if my sister got a scholarship we're going on vacation and WDW is okay by them! We're trying to hit one of the slow times, since as I said above, lines arn't one of my family's favorites! We also might take a few days to go to Busch Gardens{my parents went there just the two of them...a while ago and liked it!} and we also want to go during Spring Training and catch a baseball game, as well as maybe go to Sea World. We went to IOA two days in a row{we got free tickets for both days. My dad couldn't go the first day, and since he likes IOA more than Universal, we went again} But I'm dying to go back to Universal and try the Mummy roller coaster, and do MIB my favorite ride there again!

I have a bunch of pictures...I however don't feel like posting them so, here's the link - http://community.webshots.com/user/talkischeap01 some of them are pretty bad...so just excuse those!!!

Well, I promised my mom I'd help her with dinner so I should probably go do that. Have a great night everyone!

 

[twinscandc]

Talkischeap - Your Florida pics are great!! Are pics of the Dr. Suess area from Universal Studios? We are thinking about getting one day tickets for US for our upcoming trip in May. All of us are roller coaster lovers and I've heard they have great ones over there. I would love to hear more about your trip!!

Thanks all for your well wishes and YES, I am so glad to be feeling better!! I don't have time to be sick!!

Colleen - I am also so very jealous!! I hope the weather has been good for you. Plenty of Sunshine is good for the soul (You know - Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah ) I can't wait to hear more about you time down there in the Most Magical Place on Earth!!

About the Disney shows on the Travel Channel. Someone posted the times and dates up on the Resorts Board. I wrote them down. The upcoming shows are: 3/16 at 10am, 3/18 at 4pm and 9pm, 3/19 at 12am and 3/31 at 6pm. The shows that I taped the other day were the Behind the Scenes and then a Imagineer show (kind of like "How'd they do that" show) My girls have already watched the shows several times since I taped them.

I did get my desk assembled. I'm pretty handy and, in a strange way, I enjoy figuring things out and putting things together!! Not that my DH is not handy, he just doesn't have the motivation like I do. It doesn't bother him to see things unfinished around the house. For example: there are two shoe racks, that are still in the boxes, that have been sitting in our garage for over a year. He bought them to organize the girls shoes. When it comes to home improvement projects, such as painting or small repairs, I'm usually the one that gets the stuff done!!

Linda - Yes, I have been to Shipshewanna several times. I went to college in Warsaw, which isn't too far from all that stuff. We have never been to Bear Creek Farms....I would love to hear more about it. We usually go on several weekend trips during the summer. We love to camp and try out different campgrounds. I'm sure we could find several up there. In fact, I've heard they have a wonderful RV/Camper museum in Elkhart. We've always talked about touring it.

Well, it's getting late and I've got to up pretty early in the morning!! Everyone enjoy your day!!

Becki

 

[IASW Rider]

Hi Everyone!

GREAT PHOTOS, CAROLINE! Thanks so much for posting them! You all look great, and it looks like you were having so much fun! And it was neat to see the pictures from Universal - I haven't been there in YEARS - since well before IOA was built - so it was neat to see them! And of course it was great to see you having so much fun in WDW, too! You are very brave to have gone on ToT and RNR - I have been on all 3 Mountains, but those 2 (and Mission: Space) are ones that I don't think I'll ever be able to get myself on! My big "challenge" for our May trip will be to get myself on Soarin'! What did you think of Spoodles? We were thinking of going there last year and may go there this year. We haven't spent very much time at Boardwalk, and are thinking about spending more time there this year. We've been to San Angel and the Rose and Crown - I think that the only WS pavilion that I haven't eaten in is China! That's great that you and your family are already thinking about planning your next trip! I have been to Busch Gardens and Sea World before, and they're both a lot of fun, too. It would be so cool to see a baseball game / spring training game there! Some friends of ours just got back and were able to see the Braves play the Yankees at Wide World of Sports! Anyway, thanks again for sharing the great photos!

I can't wait for Colleen and her family to get back, so that we can see all her pictures and hear all about their adventures!

Thanks so much for posting the information about the upcoming Travel Channel Disney shows, Becki! Will definitely make note of that and try to tape them!

All is well, here - not too much to report since last I posted - will be spending a quiet weekend, cramming for my dreaded Epidemiology mid-term on Monday night! Hope that all is well with all of you!

 

[IASW Rider]

Hi Everyone!

Hope that you all had a great weekend! I'm just "bumping us up" - nothing too exciting to report, here! I took my killer Epidemiology exam last night, and I'm glad that it's over. I messed up a few things horribly (I'm sure that my professor will get a few laughs over the few answers that I literally made up........like the one about the guy who "discovered" the tuberculosis vaccine......... ), but I felt pretty comfortable with most of it. I KNEW the stuff......it's just the way that the actual exam questions are worded that totally puzzles me, sometimes.........!

Anyway, Colleen has returned from her Magical vacation, and I can't wait for her to check in, tell us about her trip, and hopefully post some pictures for us, too!

Hope that all is well with all of you! Have a great day!

 

[colleen costello]

Hi everyone. I am takinga break while yet more of my post-WD laundry spins... One week away and it will take at least that to unpack! I have been doing a little at a time.

We had a good trip. Ian got sick for 2 days and that was a bummer, but otherwise all went well. It is ironic that on this trip I packed disinfecting wipes and a tiny can of Lysol, yet he got a stomach bug anyhow. He got up one morning and barfed and had to miss some time with our friends. Luckily he is a hearty little soul and was able to go to the MK for the next day.

The weather was weird. We had a little of everything. Some days were sunny and beautiful but VERY windy. We had one day of pouring rain, and a few days were very chilly. There was even a tornado watch, but nothing came of it. Crazy! I had fun anyhow, as all of this was better than being back in the cold, gray, pre-Spring of Indiana. But we did not get as much done because weather pre-empted some of our activities. So I am already planning our summer trip...

Carribean Beach was a great surprise and the Wilderness Lodge was lovely as always. It SMELLS so good there and I always love being there. We had a nice room close to the lobby but it was still a bit much walking for my parents. Next spring we'll head back to Old Key West, "the retirement home."

It wasn't too crowded at the parks and we had fun days at Epcot and the MK. Ian bought a glass dragon and when we got it back to the room we saw it was broken... The next day was the pouring rain plus Ian's tummy felt bad again, so Erin and I headed off to the MK in the downpour to swap dragons. It turned out to be one of our best days! The MK was quite empty and we walked on a bunch of rides. We saw Pirates, Tiki Birds, Jungle Cruise (where I became completely soaked) and then Haunted Mansion and Philharmagic. We finished with a ride on the Carousel. As we were leaving it was starting to get more crowded because I think folks realized the rain was not going to stop... But we had a really special morning together.

Our friends enjoyed WDW and said they did lots they never wold have done without us "experts" there. We had dinner at Chef Mickey's and the kids enjoyed that. CM's if my favorite place to eat in the whole World. It's just so much fun with all the characters and the monorail right over your head. I got great pics of the kids and then we headed out to the monorail and the kids got to ride up front. We finished up on the 4th floor observation deck with a great view of the Castle and Space Mountain!

The next day we did the MK together. The kids rode all the Mountains together and we saw "Stitch" and "Buzz" too. Ate lunch at Pinnocchio House and Small World was still completely boarded up. The Castle is decorated in gold for the 50th anniversary. The turrets are coated in gold and there is gold trim and "ribbon" all over the top. I wasn't sure I liked it until I got close... up on top, also in gold, are characters frolicking around up there... We saw Simba and Pumbaa, and Wendy and Peter Pan, plus Flounder and Ariel and Kaa the snake from Jungle Book. King Louie the Orangutan is balancing on one turret... It is fun to look up and identify the characters. The new "Cinderellabration" show was getting ready to open and we will undoubtedly see it in July.

Epcot was fun and we really enjoyed "The Living Seas." This attraction had gotten so bad but they have rejuvanated it with the Nemo characters and now it is a lot of fun. "Turtle Talk with Crush" was adorable and so funny. It is an interactive show with Crush on a screen, computer-animated and evidently voiced by a real actor who can see the audience. We really enoyed it. The guy voicing Crush was amazing!

Had a great meal at Boma, as always. I was telling the waitress how I always seem to miss my favorite dessert, the Coconut Tiramisu. She was kind enough to tell me they serve it regularly on certain days, so I said next trip I will book Boma on Tuesday or Friday... We were there on a Monday! Anyhow, right before we left, here she came with a GIANT bowl of something... She put it down in front of me and I was like "HUH?" and I realized it was a serving of Cocomisu! She must have smuggled it out of the cooler! I was so thrilled and her thoughtful gesture made me smile. I was literally so stuffed I had to carry it out in a to-go coffee cup... Enjoyed it later! It makes you feel very special when a CM goes the extra mile to offer an unexpected surprise.

Our last day, Friday, we spent at the Polynesian. It was very chilly and the kids had the Volcano pool practically to themselves. We swam, had snacks, shopped, and walked around and that night had our last meal at Kona Cafe. Then we watched the EWP and Wishes from the lobby looking toward the beach. It was only about 50 degrees that evening and we wimped out on going down to the beach. The view from the lobby was just fine, and the coolest thing was right after the fireworks started. We were able to see a little shining light head from the Castle down toward the right -- TINKERBELL! We were surprised we could see her from that far away! We made a pact to see the fireworks and Tink from up close when we go back in July.

I am trying to figure out how to share some pics. Will work on posting some this weekend when DH is home to help!

xoxo