Going Outside My Comfort Zone

[mom2rtk]

Man, I thought my flight west was early. We left home at 7AM central time and arrived at 11. It was nice to have so much time left of the day when we got there, but I did pass out for a nap that afternoon.

Since you are staying at DLH, have you considered dinner at Goofy's Kitchen that night? It's a fun way to kick off your trip with some character interaction.

One of the issues I had going west was the time change since I sleep so poorly in the mornings. I was SO glad we stayed onsite and had access to early park entry. I was up by then every day anyway.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I know that for a planner like you, it's tough not having everything all laid out for your upcoming trip. But, at least you know that you're going and that you'll get to see your dear friend while there. I'm sure that you'll get all of the other things worked out soon.

 

[jenseib]

Haha I hear you on scattered plans! I leave in two weeks for the Princess and I am nooooo where near ready! To add to it I have a procedure on Friday for the four bulging discs in my back!

Yay for meeting your friend! If you are going to the beach near DL try and go see Newport Beach! It is absolutely gorgeous and one of my favorite beaches! The vibe there is just so laid back it is amazing.

Good luck with your surgery!
I am just going to go with the flow and let her decide where to go.

That early start is painful. Still, at least it gives you most of the day in California. There are a lot of pretty places in Southern California so I am sure you will have a wonderful day.

Corinna

It will be nice to have a whole day there, but I am sure I will be super tired by the end of the evening.

Man, I thought my flight west was early. We left home at 7AM central time and arrived at 11. It was nice to have so much time left of the day when we got there, but I did pass out for a nap that afternoon.

Since you are staying at DLH, have you considered dinner at Goofy's Kitchen that night? It's a fun way to kick off your trip with some character interaction.

One of the issues I had going west was the time change since I sleep so poorly in the mornings. I was SO glad we stayed onsite and had access to early park entry. I was up by then every day anyway.

It is painful! I still have to work out HOW I am getting to the airport. People are grumpy around here lately, so I haven't done much at looking. Let's hope the snow goes away by then!
I will be eating with my friend Stacy that night...I think at least. We still have to set up plans and she mentioned eating near the ocean. I am not sure if she has a place in mind or not. There is a possibility we will eat there later in the trip during the conference though. I get up fairly early normally too and I always have issues sleeping when I am not home.

I know that for a planner like you, it's tough not having everything all laid out for your upcoming trip. But, at least you know that you're going and that you'll get to see your dear friend while there. I'm sure that you'll get all of the other things worked out soon.

It does drive me a bit crazy. I have no control over that one so much, but a little more over the WDW and I am just not finding time. Though I am a step closer today with that trip!

 

[Beth D]

I'm in! Can't wait for the TR's on these. Maybe being a little scattered is a good thing? You might find some great ideas here from bouncing them off folks.

I'm normally an uber planner, but have done really little for our upcoming cruise. We have tentative plans for each day, but nothing concrete other than our excursions and Palo. For our 3 days in Miami we have an idea of what we're doing for 2 days, but one is completely open.

What airport are you flying into? LAX? If so, it is about 45-50 minutes without traffic from there to DL. I do know SW flies into Ontario and Orange County, both of which are closer to the parks...

Sorry to hear of Paige's car troubles. I got to work yesterday only to get stuck 2X in the parking lot! Security and maintenance finally got me unstuck, and I said forget it, I'm going home. My office then decided to open at noon. By that point I was home in my warm PJ's. NO venturing back out for me!

 

[jenseib]

I'm in! Can't wait for the TR's on these. Maybe being a little scattered is a good thing? You might find some great ideas here from bouncing them off folks.

I'm normally an uber planner, but have done really little for our upcoming cruise. We have tentative plans for each day, but nothing concrete other than our excursions and Palo. For our 3 days in Miami we have an idea of what we're doing for 2 days, but one is completely open.

What airport are you flying into? LAX? If so, it is about 45-50 minutes without traffic from there to DL. I do know SW flies into Ontario and Orange County, both of which are closer to the parks...

Sorry to hear of Paige's car troubles. I got to work yesterday only to get stuck 2X in the parking lot! Security and maintenance finally got me unstuck, and I said forget it, I'm going home. My office then decided to open at noon. By that point I was home in my warm PJ's. NO venturing back out for me!

With a cruise it is easier to go with the flow because you don't know what the ship will offer on each of the sea days....so I can handle that too a bit more. I did make a few more plans yesterday but I still need to put it on paper and take a look at it and see how to fill in the blanks!
I am flying into LAX. We had two choices and I can't remember the other, but the flight was twice as much going in there, and since I want to use the transportation they are providing I went with LAX.
I am praying that we start seeing the light at the end of the tunnel with all this snow! How cow it's awful. And cold. Another delay today for Claire. Let's just say on Wed. I was close to killing off the whole family. Paige and Skip can be more work than Claire at times.

 

[jenseib]

Today I will talk about the Disney World trip.
This trip is to take place March 21 - April 1 as of right now. Yes I am still waiting on my husband to finalize the end portion of the trip.

I do have air finally bought for the trip down. I have been watching Southwest, but unfortunately it is sky high with them for some reason. I ended up going with Delta on the way down. Even paying for bags with them will be cheaper than SW. It was about $300 for the 2 of us to fly down before bags, total. On SW it was going to be almost 300 a peice, so I couldn't justify that cost.

I have also reserved a 1 night stay at POFQ for the 21st.
It feels good to have a few more things in place.
I let my mom know I have this in place and if she wants me to book her flights and come in the same flight as us, or if she rather come in Sat.

Yesterday I did a bit of shopping. Mainly I just wanted to get out of the house, but I did want to get some shoes. I wanted something comfy but would look ok with a dress or skirt for my conference trip. I ended up getting 2 pairs of Sketcher GoWalks at the recommendation of a friend. so far they seem decent, but I will put them on again today and walk on the treadmill to test them further. I have such awful feet that I tend to blister ins weird places.
I also bought some shorts and a dress to take. I had a coupon that could be used all day so I went around JC Penney's and trying things on. Mostly it was just nice to be away from home for a few hours. But I did like what I found and everything was on sale or on clearance.

Today I am catching up on work and hopefully can make a few more plans about the WDW vacation, or at least get it sorted out on how many days I want to be at the parks!

 

[wiigirl]

Following along!

 

[mom2rtk]

YEAH! for getting out of the house. I can TOTALLY relate!

How much snow did you end up getting?

You'll have to let me know what you thought of the shoes. I need to find some new ones for our next Disney trip.

 

[littlenellbell]

Can't wait to hear about your new adventures! Sounds awesome! I'd love to go to Disneyland some day.

 

[dolphingirl47]

Great that you managed to get your outbound flights booked and better still that you get to spend one night at a Disney resort. I am glad that you had a productive shopping trip.

Corinna

 

[dizneeat]

Yeah for getting your flight booked and a nice shopping trip. Hope the shoes are what you were looking for (and NO blisters!)

 

[Poolrat]

Finally made it over....


YAY for a DL trip and a WDW trip. I hope you get your last couple of ducks in a row.

 

[Kathy Jetson]

It sounds so exciting! I'm getting excited reading about it and I'm not even going!

I think getting a hotel the night before you leave sounds like a good idea. That's a lot to go through that early in the morning and this way you can sleep longer. (that is if you sleep)

 

[jenseib]

Following along!

YEAH! for getting out of the house. I can TOTALLY relate!

How much snow did you end up getting?

You'll have to let me know what you thought of the shoes. I need to find some new ones for our next Disney trip.

I have no clue...it just keeps coming. Probably 6-8 inches I am guessing but we have had more since. I am so sick of white!!!!
The shoes I got are Sketchers go Walk. They really are pretty comfy so far.
They are slipons and they have many colors. I got a gray and a white pair and I can wear them with a skirt or dress and not look totally ridiculous.

Can't wait to hear about your new adventures! Sounds awesome! I'd love to go to Disneyland some day.

I can't wait to live them!

Great that you managed to get your outbound flights booked and better still that you get to spend one night at a Disney resort. I am glad that you had a productive shopping trip.

Corinna

Things are slowly coming together. I still have to do more for the March trip, but I am feeling better about things now that I do have done.

 

[jenseib]

Yeah for getting your flight booked and a nice shopping trip. Hope the shoes are what you were looking for (and NO blisters!)

so far the shoes feel great so I am hopeful for them during the trip.

Finally made it over....


YAY for a DL trip and a WDW trip. I hope you get your last couple of ducks in a row.

I am slowly getting things lined up but I am waiting on my husband still. He is not too speedy about doing anything that pertains to me.

It sounds so exciting! I'm getting excited reading about it and I'm not even going!

I think getting a hotel the night before you leave sounds like a good idea. That's a lot to go through that early in the morning and this way you can sleep longer. (that is if you sleep)

I am pretty excited too. I just can't wait to get away from snow and ice too. Even 30 degree weather would be nice than here lately.

Paige has volunteered her boyfriend and her to take me to the airport, so I am thinking we'll go that route for now.

 

[Beth D]

Hooray for new shoes and shopping! We're feeling claustrophobic here too! DS is up to 10 days cancelled. I hope OH passes the law for the extra 4 days, that would mean only 1 to make up. Plus a couple of 2 hr delays, and wow!

Thank goodness my mom is retired and right around the corner. She's been a lifesaver babysitter those days.

We had to get out and go shopping this weekend too. Went up to CLE way yesterday. Bought some shirts for DS for our cruise. He is almost packed!

I think we're up to almost 2 feet of snow on the ground. It just keeps piling up...and up... and up....

 

[jenseib]

Hooray for new shoes and shopping! We're feeling claustrophobic here too! DS is up to 10 days cancelled. I hope OH passes the law for the extra 4 days, that would mean only 1 to make up. Plus a couple of 2 hr delays, and wow!

Thank goodness my mom is retired and right around the corner. She's been a lifesaver babysitter those days.

We had to get out and go shopping this weekend too. Went up to CLE way yesterday. Bought some shirts for DS for our cruise. He is almost packed!

I think we're up to almost 2 feet of snow on the ground. It just keeps piling up...and up... and up....

I think we are at 11 right now. I sure hope they pass that too. They are already talking about going on Presidents day to make up 1 day. They are voting on it this week. I kind of hope they do. They have had enough days off that that holiday is not going to be missed.

 

[jenseib]

DL News
I talked to my friend Stacy today. She is the one who lives in CA. She will be picking me up from the airport and we will spend the day together. She says she will drive me around to see some places and then we'll head to Venice Beach area. I looked it up and it looks interesting. I read Sundays are a great day to go and see all sorts of different people and many vendors. I can't wait to take pictures.
Stacy asked me if I was traveling with just a carryon or a suitcase too. I had a good laugh. I told her I was trying to figure out how to fit it all into ONE suitcase. LOL She said she better clean her trunk out then as it is full a junk.

A little bit about Stacy. We have been friends forever. She came to my school when we started 3rd grade and became friends right away. We went to school from 3rd to 8th grade. When it came time to go to high school, my parents sent me to an all girl Catholic school and Stacy went to the public school. Even then we remained friends and I still mostly spent my weekends with my friends at that school rather than my own. Especially once we could all drive.
Stacy was the maid of honor at my first wedding (to my sons father). She went to college at Kent State, which is a few hours away, so as I was a new mom and newly married, she was going to college. Not long after she graduated she moved to Chicago, where she eventually started working for MTV. Her dream has always been, even since grade school, was to move to California and do something in the movie business.
After a few years in Chicago she decided it was now or never and made the move. I believe she has been in California now for close to 20 years, but I could be off on that.
She eventually started working for Paul Verhoeven, who had directed Robocop and Total Recall. She was kind of his personal gopher and right arm when she started I think. Her first movie with him (I think) was Starship Troopers. All of our friends went to see it just to see her name in the credits. She also had a cameo in the movie where there is a news flash and she is the person they showed for it.
Stacy also worked on the movie Showgirls, which was kind of a flop for the amount of money and time they put into it. And sadly I never have seen it to this day.
She later went on to co produce Hollow man with Kevin Bacon. Pretty neat to find your friend listed on wikipedia.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollow_Man

Have you ever played or heard of 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon? Well you could name me and I know Stacy and Stacy knows Kevin!

http://www.ehow.com/how_2117477_play-six-degrees-kevin-bacon.html

She still works for Paul, but he lives in Europe now and mostly does movies over there. And he is pretty old now too. She does a lot of research for him though, but she knows that he can't go on forever.
She is also working on writing a pilot for a TV Series. I don't know all the details, but when she was home over the holidays she said they were going in to pitch it soon. I believe she has made it through several steps so far. She says it takes forever to get anything on TV now a days. So many steps and you have to be in it for the long haul.

So thats my friend Stacy and she may lead an exciting life to some, but she is still the same person I became friends with so many years ago. We can pick right up each time we see each other and I am super excited to see her again and this time on HER turf.

 

[AwkwardTurtle]

Coming out of lurkdom to say hi and tentatively join in! I always love reading your trip reports, and I've gotten a lot of neat ideas from them. I'm really excited that you're coming to Disneyland! It's my home park (I live super close), so if you have any questions, please please ask!

 

[jenseib]

Coming out of lurkdom to say hi and tentatively join in! I always love reading your trip reports, and I've gotten a lot of neat ideas from them. I'm really excited that you're coming to Disneyland! It's my home park (I live super close), so if you have any questions, please please ask!

HI! Thanks for joining in and feel free to give me any advice!