I'm going to start out by apologizing in advance for what I expect to be a very long, detailed report. I'm a detail person and now that I've written the introduction, I've realized I don't know how to condense. I'm sorry. However, because I'm such a detail person, I'm a good Disney planner. I'm also very compulsive and because I'm compulsive, that makes me a good Disney planner. You know it's bad when it takes 4 pages to introduce the cast.
Here's the cast for our Disney trip March 30-April 9. (Off property - I know - sorry Father, for I have sinned...)
Me - I'm turning 40 while at Disney. Not happy about turning 40, but there's nowhere else I'd rather be than Disney while doing it. Total Disney freak (borderline obsessive - but if you're reading this, I'm guessing you pretty much are too.) Also, a compulsive planner - our entire trip is planned with color-coded, laminated day sheets, park sheets, restaurant sheets, times of every show sheets, bathroom break sheets, etc. Believe it or not, I do work (full-time - legal secretary), however, I squeeze in as much DIS time as I can get while at work because... well, it's Disney! Disney takes precedence over pretty much everything, right? ZZUB - if you're reading this and you ever need a new secretary - look me up! Even though I spend the majority of my day on the DIS, I really am good and can get a lot accomplished in very little time.
Sister (DS - 43). Okay, DS is a funny one. Her life is absolutely crazy - always. She has two boys (who I will introduce in a sec) and a sick dad (he's my dad too but a long time ago DS and I agreed we'd split the caretaking of our parents - if need be - and my DS got the short end of the stick - she got my dad.) I don't want to sound completely insensitive because I do love my dad but most of his caretaking needs are self inflicted and it has been going on a long time and to explain more would take another 15 pages or so, so please just trust me on this one. Anyway, DS is always insanely busy between taking care of my dad and running her two kids around - plus she works full time, yadda, yadda, yadda. She pretty much always just sits back and lets her compulsive sister (me) (and even more compulsive mother - who I will introduce in a sec) plan everything. That's the reason DS and I get along so well. She just lets us plan everything. We tell her where to be and when and she just shows up. It's a wonderful thing. Anyway, I went into Disney commando mode right when we started planning the trip last July. I was sending multiple emails a day to DM and DS - well, you know the drill. DS was going along with everything and even though I'd send very long, detailed emails of - we need to do this - or we need to do that, etc. I'd usually only get an "okay" back from her or maybe, on a good day, I'd get a "yeah, that looks like fun" response from her. That level of detail was expected from her because that's her role in the family and I like that. However, something changed about two months before our actual trip to Disney. DS started getting Disney obsessed. It started off with a little Disney trivia email snippet and when she sent the first snippet - I stared at it in amazement. What? DS is sending Disney trivia? Who is this person? Don't get me wrong. DS absolutely LOVES Disney - but again, she's just not into all the little details. That's MY role. I immediately sent DM a secret email asking her if she saw the email from her other daughter and she too was in shock. Actually, I just lied. I didn't send DM a secret email. I thought about it but this is what really happened and it's funny - bear with me. DS sent the trivia question to DM and I. We both attempted to answer the question. We were both wrong. DS ended up sending the correct answer and I'd tell you what the question was but I seriously cannot remember because that day was a blur to me because I seriously was in shock and I was truly trying to figure out who had taken possession of DS's mind because it wasn't her. So... I'm driving home from work and I make my daily call to DM (who I really will introduce in a sec) and DM says to me, "So... DS got the question right" to which I replied, "no mom, DS was the one who sent us the question - she was merely giving us the correct answer - we were wrong." Silence. "Hellooooo... mom, you there?" She said, "Whaaaaaaat??? DS sent us the question?" I guess you maybe have to know our family for this to be really funny and that's why I'm giving you the level of detail that I am because I want you to get to know us - it makes a trip report so much better when you feel you know the people so bear with me. Anyway, DM and I exchanged our mutual shock of what possessed DS to send us this email and we chalked it up to a full moon, alien invasion, you name it - it wouldn't happen again because it just wouldn't be right. We were wrong. Something happened to DS on that day and she hasn't been the same since. She ran out and bought Disney trivia books and she started sending us daily trivia questions! Initially, she would send DM and I emails saying, "Hey - did you know yadda, yadda, yadda" to which I would always reply, "duh, of course I knew that - I'M the Disney freak/planner - not you." I'd always try to one-up her with the answer by giving her one more level of detail - and I figured even if I had to make it up she wouldn't ever know - because she didn't really know Disney like I did! Wrong... she started correcting ME with stuff. Anyway, this is getting way too long, you get the picture. I thought I knew my role in the family - I was the planner - I was the one to tell everyone where to be and when - and my world was starting to turn upside down. Not really, but DS really shocked us all with how obsessed she was getting. It really was fun - but I secretly didn't like it when she'd correct me with Disney trivia. Okay, so let's move on.
Our mom (DM) I'd tell you her age but if I did, she would kill me - literally. DM is very funny about her age. So funny, in fact, that when I was little, she used to always say she was 21 - every year - and for whatever reason I didn't realize that she was saying she was 21 every year (I wasn't very bright) and when I was in 5th grade I told my teacher that my mom was 21 - because your mom is not supposed to LIE to you and when we were at conferences one night, my teacher commented on the fact that I was telling everyone my mom was 21. Well, DM had to fess up that she was not 11 when she had me and she was, in fact, older than 21. Mind you, she did not fess up to her true age, but it was at that moment that I realized DM had been lying to me for the first 10 years of my life. Needless to say, we've never let her live it down and will forever give her crap about her age. DM is financing this trip for the whole family. I mean, everything. She's the most generous DM you can ever ask for (even though she lies) and she's not taking applications for adoption. She also took us to Florida in 1999 and 2000. Another funny story about her age - when we first went in 1999, we (funny that I say we - my MOM) bought annual passes for us and because DM has bad knees, she is one of those scooter people and we're in line to get our annual passes and DM did not want to get off her scooter to get closer in line and the CM behind the counter needed her year of birth. We all looked at her to see what she was going to do. Was she actually going to get off the scooter to walk up to the counter so she can give her birth date in privacy OR will she shout her birth date out for all to hear. Big dilemma. She thought about it for a minute as we all stared at her silently, wondering she was going to do and finally she sighs and says her year of birth. My nephew #1 (who I'll introduce in a sec) immediately did the math (his little mind still works like that - mine doesn't - I was still counting on my fingers (and toes) trying to figure out her age) my nephew yells out - "Hey, you're *&#$????" (I'd tell you her age, but again, I'd be dead.) So, to make a long story even longer, we ALL knew her age - it was a wonderful moment for all of us except poor DM. Back in 1999 and 2000 she had my role in the family. She was the compulsive planner - not to say she's still not compulsive because she is to adnauseam, however, for whatever reason I guess I dominated her a little more with this trip (until DS tried taking over) and she has taken a little bit more of a back seat with the planning.
My daughter (DD - 14). She LOVES Disney and even though she's a teen, there's still a little girl in there - deep down - and Disney definitely brings it out in her. Last January, my boss (lawyer who I've worked with for 18 years) financed a Disney trip for DD and I. We (my boss and I) kinda have a love/hate relationship and we truly are like an old married couple. There are days when we hate each other and other days that I think he's the most wonderful person I've ever met (in a fatherly way). Anyway, he was under a lot of pressure at work and he was taking it all out on me and I finally got fed up and tried to fire him (tried to get reassigned) but we had one big blow-out and ended up making up and he realized how horrible he had been to me so he financed a trip for DD and I to go to Disney - so of course I forgave all. It was Disney, after all - call me easy. Anyway, when DD and I went last year she was almost 13 and she's about 3 inches taller than me and does NOT look her age. In fact, last year, while at Disney, was the first time I noticed men (not just boys) checking her out and it really bothered me - a lot. Anyway, while we were at Disney, she turned back into my little girl again. She even held my hand as we walked through the parks! If there are any parents out there reading this who have a teenage daughter, you know how much that means. Anyway, it was a wonderful trip - she even still got autographs of the characters with pictures. I was very surprised, but loved having my little girl back - if only for a week.
Nephew #1, (DN1 - 15). Great kid. He's your typical 15-year old boy. His dad, my sister's hubby, is not able to make this trip because he can't get the time off work and we're all a little mixed about it for a few reasons. When said dad is not around, DN1 turns into a kid, which he is, which we love. He's a huge help and like his mom (DS) - or rather like his mom USED to be - he pretty much goes with the flow and just shows up when and where he's supposed to. The three kids (DD, DN1 and DN2 - who I'll introduce you to in a sec) all have cell phones and this trip will be interesting to see how much they'll be calling their friends or, worse yet, texting them. Any parent of a teenage child reading this knows how dangerous texting can be and DN1 has to hold one of the world records for most texting in one month. He sent over 2700 text messages in one month and DS about died when she opened her bill. She did not have unlimited and I think she said her bill was like $400 or something like that. Needless to say, DN1 was in a wee bit of trouble and she has since purchased unlimited texting. Anyway, I live in this magical bubble where I think the kids won't even be thinking of their friends at home because we'll be in Disney and when you're in Disney, the outside world pretty much doesn't exist - to adults, anyway.
Nephew #2 (DN2 - 12). Another great kid. DN2 is Mr. Sensitive. In fact, for reasons which I'm not going to go into because my introduction page would end up being 10 pages and I'm guessing I've already lost a few people already - I can see everyone's eyes starting to gloss over. Anyway, we're taking two separate flights on two separate days. DD and I are going the next day and I'm not happy about it. I want to be there at the same time as everyone else so we're seeing everything for the first time together, you know? Because of that, my family members that will be there before me are banned from doing anything Disney. They understand me so they're adhering to my "request" and they're going to pick up DM's scooter, do the grocery shopping and do sporty boy stuff before we get there. Anyway, Mr. Sensitive DN2, felt so bad about DD and I not getting there at the same time as them that he was willing to forfeit a precious day of his vacation to go down with us and experience everything with us. Isn't that sweet?
Here's the cast for our Disney trip March 30-April 9. (Off property - I know - sorry Father, for I have sinned...)
Me - I'm turning 40 while at Disney. Not happy about turning 40, but there's nowhere else I'd rather be than Disney while doing it. Total Disney freak (borderline obsessive - but if you're reading this, I'm guessing you pretty much are too.) Also, a compulsive planner - our entire trip is planned with color-coded, laminated day sheets, park sheets, restaurant sheets, times of every show sheets, bathroom break sheets, etc. Believe it or not, I do work (full-time - legal secretary), however, I squeeze in as much DIS time as I can get while at work because... well, it's Disney! Disney takes precedence over pretty much everything, right? ZZUB - if you're reading this and you ever need a new secretary - look me up! Even though I spend the majority of my day on the DIS, I really am good and can get a lot accomplished in very little time.
Sister (DS - 43). Okay, DS is a funny one. Her life is absolutely crazy - always. She has two boys (who I will introduce in a sec) and a sick dad (he's my dad too but a long time ago DS and I agreed we'd split the caretaking of our parents - if need be - and my DS got the short end of the stick - she got my dad.) I don't want to sound completely insensitive because I do love my dad but most of his caretaking needs are self inflicted and it has been going on a long time and to explain more would take another 15 pages or so, so please just trust me on this one. Anyway, DS is always insanely busy between taking care of my dad and running her two kids around - plus she works full time, yadda, yadda, yadda. She pretty much always just sits back and lets her compulsive sister (me) (and even more compulsive mother - who I will introduce in a sec) plan everything. That's the reason DS and I get along so well. She just lets us plan everything. We tell her where to be and when and she just shows up. It's a wonderful thing. Anyway, I went into Disney commando mode right when we started planning the trip last July. I was sending multiple emails a day to DM and DS - well, you know the drill. DS was going along with everything and even though I'd send very long, detailed emails of - we need to do this - or we need to do that, etc. I'd usually only get an "okay" back from her or maybe, on a good day, I'd get a "yeah, that looks like fun" response from her. That level of detail was expected from her because that's her role in the family and I like that. However, something changed about two months before our actual trip to Disney. DS started getting Disney obsessed. It started off with a little Disney trivia email snippet and when she sent the first snippet - I stared at it in amazement. What? DS is sending Disney trivia? Who is this person? Don't get me wrong. DS absolutely LOVES Disney - but again, she's just not into all the little details. That's MY role. I immediately sent DM a secret email asking her if she saw the email from her other daughter and she too was in shock. Actually, I just lied. I didn't send DM a secret email. I thought about it but this is what really happened and it's funny - bear with me. DS sent the trivia question to DM and I. We both attempted to answer the question. We were both wrong. DS ended up sending the correct answer and I'd tell you what the question was but I seriously cannot remember because that day was a blur to me because I seriously was in shock and I was truly trying to figure out who had taken possession of DS's mind because it wasn't her. So... I'm driving home from work and I make my daily call to DM (who I really will introduce in a sec) and DM says to me, "So... DS got the question right" to which I replied, "no mom, DS was the one who sent us the question - she was merely giving us the correct answer - we were wrong." Silence. "Hellooooo... mom, you there?" She said, "Whaaaaaaat??? DS sent us the question?" I guess you maybe have to know our family for this to be really funny and that's why I'm giving you the level of detail that I am because I want you to get to know us - it makes a trip report so much better when you feel you know the people so bear with me. Anyway, DM and I exchanged our mutual shock of what possessed DS to send us this email and we chalked it up to a full moon, alien invasion, you name it - it wouldn't happen again because it just wouldn't be right. We were wrong. Something happened to DS on that day and she hasn't been the same since. She ran out and bought Disney trivia books and she started sending us daily trivia questions! Initially, she would send DM and I emails saying, "Hey - did you know yadda, yadda, yadda" to which I would always reply, "duh, of course I knew that - I'M the Disney freak/planner - not you." I'd always try to one-up her with the answer by giving her one more level of detail - and I figured even if I had to make it up she wouldn't ever know - because she didn't really know Disney like I did! Wrong... she started correcting ME with stuff. Anyway, this is getting way too long, you get the picture. I thought I knew my role in the family - I was the planner - I was the one to tell everyone where to be and when - and my world was starting to turn upside down. Not really, but DS really shocked us all with how obsessed she was getting. It really was fun - but I secretly didn't like it when she'd correct me with Disney trivia. Okay, so let's move on.
Our mom (DM) I'd tell you her age but if I did, she would kill me - literally. DM is very funny about her age. So funny, in fact, that when I was little, she used to always say she was 21 - every year - and for whatever reason I didn't realize that she was saying she was 21 every year (I wasn't very bright) and when I was in 5th grade I told my teacher that my mom was 21 - because your mom is not supposed to LIE to you and when we were at conferences one night, my teacher commented on the fact that I was telling everyone my mom was 21. Well, DM had to fess up that she was not 11 when she had me and she was, in fact, older than 21. Mind you, she did not fess up to her true age, but it was at that moment that I realized DM had been lying to me for the first 10 years of my life. Needless to say, we've never let her live it down and will forever give her crap about her age. DM is financing this trip for the whole family. I mean, everything. She's the most generous DM you can ever ask for (even though she lies) and she's not taking applications for adoption. She also took us to Florida in 1999 and 2000. Another funny story about her age - when we first went in 1999, we (funny that I say we - my MOM) bought annual passes for us and because DM has bad knees, she is one of those scooter people and we're in line to get our annual passes and DM did not want to get off her scooter to get closer in line and the CM behind the counter needed her year of birth. We all looked at her to see what she was going to do. Was she actually going to get off the scooter to walk up to the counter so she can give her birth date in privacy OR will she shout her birth date out for all to hear. Big dilemma. She thought about it for a minute as we all stared at her silently, wondering she was going to do and finally she sighs and says her year of birth. My nephew #1 (who I'll introduce in a sec) immediately did the math (his little mind still works like that - mine doesn't - I was still counting on my fingers (and toes) trying to figure out her age) my nephew yells out - "Hey, you're *&#$????" (I'd tell you her age, but again, I'd be dead.) So, to make a long story even longer, we ALL knew her age - it was a wonderful moment for all of us except poor DM. Back in 1999 and 2000 she had my role in the family. She was the compulsive planner - not to say she's still not compulsive because she is to adnauseam, however, for whatever reason I guess I dominated her a little more with this trip (until DS tried taking over) and she has taken a little bit more of a back seat with the planning.
My daughter (DD - 14). She LOVES Disney and even though she's a teen, there's still a little girl in there - deep down - and Disney definitely brings it out in her. Last January, my boss (lawyer who I've worked with for 18 years) financed a Disney trip for DD and I. We (my boss and I) kinda have a love/hate relationship and we truly are like an old married couple. There are days when we hate each other and other days that I think he's the most wonderful person I've ever met (in a fatherly way). Anyway, he was under a lot of pressure at work and he was taking it all out on me and I finally got fed up and tried to fire him (tried to get reassigned) but we had one big blow-out and ended up making up and he realized how horrible he had been to me so he financed a trip for DD and I to go to Disney - so of course I forgave all. It was Disney, after all - call me easy. Anyway, when DD and I went last year she was almost 13 and she's about 3 inches taller than me and does NOT look her age. In fact, last year, while at Disney, was the first time I noticed men (not just boys) checking her out and it really bothered me - a lot. Anyway, while we were at Disney, she turned back into my little girl again. She even held my hand as we walked through the parks! If there are any parents out there reading this who have a teenage daughter, you know how much that means. Anyway, it was a wonderful trip - she even still got autographs of the characters with pictures. I was very surprised, but loved having my little girl back - if only for a week.
Nephew #1, (DN1 - 15). Great kid. He's your typical 15-year old boy. His dad, my sister's hubby, is not able to make this trip because he can't get the time off work and we're all a little mixed about it for a few reasons. When said dad is not around, DN1 turns into a kid, which he is, which we love. He's a huge help and like his mom (DS) - or rather like his mom USED to be - he pretty much goes with the flow and just shows up when and where he's supposed to. The three kids (DD, DN1 and DN2 - who I'll introduce you to in a sec) all have cell phones and this trip will be interesting to see how much they'll be calling their friends or, worse yet, texting them. Any parent of a teenage child reading this knows how dangerous texting can be and DN1 has to hold one of the world records for most texting in one month. He sent over 2700 text messages in one month and DS about died when she opened her bill. She did not have unlimited and I think she said her bill was like $400 or something like that. Needless to say, DN1 was in a wee bit of trouble and she has since purchased unlimited texting. Anyway, I live in this magical bubble where I think the kids won't even be thinking of their friends at home because we'll be in Disney and when you're in Disney, the outside world pretty much doesn't exist - to adults, anyway.
Nephew #2 (DN2 - 12). Another great kid. DN2 is Mr. Sensitive. In fact, for reasons which I'm not going to go into because my introduction page would end up being 10 pages and I'm guessing I've already lost a few people already - I can see everyone's eyes starting to gloss over. Anyway, we're taking two separate flights on two separate days. DD and I are going the next day and I'm not happy about it. I want to be there at the same time as everyone else so we're seeing everything for the first time together, you know? Because of that, my family members that will be there before me are banned from doing anything Disney. They understand me so they're adhering to my "request" and they're going to pick up DM's scooter, do the grocery shopping and do sporty boy stuff before we get there. Anyway, Mr. Sensitive DN2, felt so bad about DD and I not getting there at the same time as them that he was willing to forfeit a precious day of his vacation to go down with us and experience everything with us. Isn't that sweet?
(I'm only allowed computer access after everyone is asleep!)
