Goofmeister's very late October 2004 trip report Thread.

[Goofmeister]

In the grand tradition of procrastination, I have finally put some serious thought into finishing this trip report. I had grand plans of having this done whilst it was fresh in my memory. I was going to take notes. I was not going to wait over a year later (like I did with the last report). I was however kidding myself. I am a professional, do not try this at home.

The prequel


You probably don’t know this, but I have an unusual compulsion. If you are reading this, you probably know what I’m talking about and you share this particular malady. I’m a Disney planner. The first step with any addiction is to admit you have a problem. Ok…here goes…you have a problem. Me? Why I’m just fine the way I am. Thank you very much for keeping your nose out of my business.

Secondly, I like trip reports. Mainly reading them, but I have written one. Which at the time I thought that it would be my one and only. I would liken it to childbirth, except I know that it is nothing like childbirth other than it was a long and difficult labor. And like any parent I am proud of my trip report child and would like to continue the progeny despite what I know will be a long and difficult labor. I have noticed, unlike my real children, that the trip report doesn’t talk back, whine, or pick on its little brother. Of course it doesn’t run to the door screaming “Daddy” and hug me profusely either. In fact, now that I think about it that “TR” child is a little ungrateful wretch. Of course you can make up your own mind by purusing either MousePlanet or the DIS. (insert shameless plea)

Which leads us to this inevitable prologue, the Pre-Trip report. Since we know each other so well, snuggle up, get cozy, this could be a long one.

Cast Introductions

We are introducing a new character to the clan, and for the sake of argument we will call him Ryan. Don’t bother arguing…that is in fact his real name, and he will be fifteen months old at the time of the trip. He is a Disney-o-phite in training. The fact that he is a boy, that he can have a temper, and that he is an explorer will be the biggest wild cards of the trip. I think that our real challenge will be keeping him entertained while waiting. He is quite sweet, and is stricken by Buzz. It helps that he also likes Rollie-Pollie-Olie, Bear, and Pooh. He also loves water, and being outside which is a good thing for trips to WDW.

Back again, for their third trips are my daughter Samantha and my wife Angie. Samantha is a great kid with a great big heart. She likes the princesses, but is over the moon for Kim Possible. We are a little disappointed that her interest in the princesses is waning. But we are holding out that when we are at WDW the magic will take root. At two months shy of six she is finally tall enough to do some of the thrill rides. She isn’t afraid of heights or speed, but isn’t happy about dark and spooky things.

Angie, well nothing I can say here will ever do her justice. She’s the love of my life, my best friend, and a wonderful Mother. We’ve been married almost ten years, but we’ve been together almost fourteen. She is passionate about her family, protective of her children, and a Disney guru. I think she is torn between seeing Samantha experience new things, and watching Ryan take it all in for the first time. She is thrilled to be taking a vacation with just us. Of course I feel the same way. Maybe that’s why we are so good together?

We already know each other, but I think a more formal introduction would be helpful. I am Sam. Sam I am. I like to plan. Plan. Plan. Plan. Plan. I do not like to wait and stand. I do not like it, not one little bit. I also go by Goofmeister on the DIS. I spend a lot of time reading about Disney, and absorbing as many facts as I can retain. I’d really like to work for Imagineering, but I have a realistic outlook on the whole process. (But that doesn’t stop me from sending in my resumes).

The Plan, part 1 which Resort?

I always start with a simple plan, go to Disney soon. (And soon meant fall 2004) The more I know about planning, the harder it gets. For example, I agonized over what specific month, October or November. November was value season, but Jersey week, Veteran’s Day and Thanksgiving really chop up a good stay. Then there was this nagging doubt about taking Samantha out of Kindergarten for seven days. October on the other hand is the more expensive regular season, and has higher crowds, but Samantha has a fall break mid month so she’d miss fewer days. Contrastingly, on our first trip I was only concerned about which month would have the best weather. Ah, those simple naïve days, how I long for the carefree unfettered youth.

We ended up making reservations for ASMo over Samantha’s fall break in October. But then I got worried about Floridians being on fall break at the same time. I rationalized that November was value season so lower prices and hopefully fewer crowds won out. So despite the less than perfect situation we changed our reservations. I’ve found that once I’ve made a reservation, I can’t leave it alone until its been changed at least four times. Accordingly, we switched to the AKL. For about two months we were very excited about AKL. It would be a new resort for us, the kids would love the animals, and it is a very popular place. But, it wasn’t the WL, and it was a lot more expensive than ASMo. Then one day Angie asked me why exactly were we staying at the AKL. I gave her the usual spiel about the animals, the pool, but in the end I didn’t really know why we had settled on AKL. It turns out that we liked the idea of staying there, but not to actually stay there. Then of course there was that little nagging doubt about Samantha missing school to deal with. Then the 2004 school calendar came out, and guess what?

…

Go ahead guess!

…

Fine! The dates for her fall break were a week later than we thought, so we’d avoid the dreaded Columbus Day weekend. However, now we didn’t know if we’d drive or fly.

Which pretty much brings us up to today. The day the October hours came out (sort of). I’ve found myself checking two threads on the DIS over and over. One is about when October hours will come out, and the other is about Fall AP rates. I need the October hours to finish my itinerary. I need an AP discount to stay at the WL. The hours are out, but not on Disney’s web site. This is amazing to me. Here you have this large company able to produce stage shows, films, and fantastically entertaining attractions, but they can’t get a simple thing like park hours up on their web site. The whole DIS community will know the hours before Disney gets around to posting them. Oh, and the AP thing is not going well either. We all know that there are limited discounted rooms right? Disney decided to send special PIN code only rates to random people, and I AM NOT ONE OF THEM. I am trying to give them more money, but they won’t let me. And to add insult to injury you’re letting everyone else get my room!

We will most likely staying at ASMo from 10/17-10/25/04. But I am hoping for a great AP rate so that we can stay at the Lodge.

The Plan, part 2 Travel?

Well, we are almost certainly going to drive. But, if we get great non-stop airfare, we will almost certainly drive. We have a very specific need…more days at Disney. However, we have a baby and another trip in December to think about. Here’s the deal; I can’t quit checking airfare. I’m not sure what I’d do if I found the perfect flight. I know we wouldn’t book it, but I can’t let the idea of a good deal pass me by unnoticed. I think if the fares don’t go down, then our plan to drive is wholly justified.

Driving it sure might be first through Dallas, Shreveport, and then a night in Natchitoches. We will be up early the next day, and because we couldn’t get a hotel within an hour of Tallahassee, we will stop in Marianna, FL. On the third day we will return to our second home, the All-Star Wilderness Lodge Movie Resort.

The Stroller Nightmare.

Since most of you are sound asleep by now…My wife had a nightmare about our new stroller. Whatever negotiating skills I think I have cannot compete with those of my daughter. Of course she doesn’t play fair, and is quick to pull out every emotional trick in her arsenal. Samantha loves her baby brother. The closer she is to him the better. Which is a good thing. Of course this meant she wanted a double stroller, a side by side stroller to boot. We did not. She needs a stroller for Disney. We are wise enough to know that her little legs could do it, but the whining would kill us. Unfortunately, Ryan’s current stroller is too massive to take to the parks, and we wanted something compact. Our idea was two lightweight umbrellas, think inexpensive, and maneuverable. Samantha wanted to be close to her brother because she loves him so so so so so so much. We weren’t so sure. Hey, what about a light weight double seated speckled umbrella stroller? What a great idea! And after quite a bit of searching I came across one made by Schwinn. The Schwinn SUV double umbrella stroller to be exact. SUV should’ve tipped us off. It wasn’t exactly cheap, but I had read good things about it from actual WDW veterans in the trenches. I ordered it, and when it came…well, it wasn’t light, cheap or maneuverable. It was bigger than we thought it would be, but when folded it is very compact. At least it had two reclining seats, and it was better that our old one. Angie’s nightmare went something like this:

It was an early morning and we were running a little late for our PS at CRT. However, we couldn’t get down the hallway because the stroller was too wide, and either we couldn’t get around anybody or the stroller was hung up on something. At the bus stop people were complaining that the huge stroller was going to take up too much room. We could barely get the thing off the bus because it was so heavy, and it wouldn’t go through the gates. Then we ended up missing our PS because we couldn’t get down Main Street.

So, I expect the beast to be a comedy of errors. Please watch your shins and toes. I’m so so so so so sorry.

The Plan, part 3 The Itinerary?

I could go on for days about the various park scenarios that we, um I, came up with. Literally, there were spreadsheets full of times dates and parks. I got so desperate I joined Tour Guide Mike’s online guidebook for even more secret tips. I’m a little afraid to say anything because of the secrecy agreement with TGM. In fact, I may have said too much already. So to spare you all the gory details here are just the must-do’s of this trip.

Chef Mickey’s when we arrive. It’s a tradition, and a great way to kick off our vacation.

Magic Kingdom on Monday. I know it’s a bad idea, everyone does it. But we have to see the castle right away.

Cinderella’s Royal Table. Already got more PS’s than we can use. (Hint one day soon we’ll announce we are canceling one of them)

October 20, MNNSHP.

Spectromagic and Wishes.

Illuminations.

We will hit the Food and Wine Festival, and tackle new rides (for us) in all the parks. Swimming and skipping around on water mice will also be fun. We hope to work in a water park this time around.

We are probably going to skip Fantasmic. So there will be more room for you.

That’s it in a Nutshell.

See you in October, Sam.

 

[DukeStreetKing]

Great prequel! I'd love to see the layout of that "new" resort you'll be staying at.

 

[OhMari]

December too? What are the plans for Dec.?

 

[Goofmeister]

The All-Star Wilderness Lodge Movie Resort layout would be very similar to the WL, but bigger, and at ASMo rates.


In December it will be my 10 year wedding anniversary, and we are leaving the kids at Grandmas for 5 days and 4 nights at the WL.

I can't beleive I'm going twice in one year!

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

Great pre-trip report! Clever and funny!

Tink

 

[LeslieM]

I so so so so so enjoyed your prequel and, for some strange unknown reason (HINT: check out countdown below) this all sounds v-e-r-r-y familiar to me. I, of course, could not be quite as eloquent as you, Goofmeister, but you are detailing some of my planning perfectly ! Can't wait for the next installment -- oh, and I'm with OhMari ...do tell about the Dec. plans !

Leslie

 

[Patsfan7]

I only have one child, but I wanted to share information about a product that may be of help to you. They have umbrella stroller attachers. Not sure what they are acutally called. They are two bars that you put between two umbrella strollers that keep them side by side. They are $15.00 at Babies R Us. Just a thought, if you are still thinking of two umbrellas, and want them to be attached to eachother so the kids can sit together.
CDM

 

[Aisling]

Goofmeister, we're long lost twins separated at birth!

 

[Goofmeister]

Thanks. I guess I'll have to write another one for our December trip. We just have to get done planning the October trip first.

Sam

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

Thanks for the great pre-trip coverage! Looking forward to hearing about your trip!

 

[tinawv]

After reading your pretrip report I can hardly wait for the real thing.

 

[Goofmeister]

An update is due here...

We have decided to drive. The forced family togetherness will be good for us. (Whatever doesn't kill you...) We will definitely fly next year. If we go…we will definitely think about not driving.
The AP rates finally came out, and well let’s just say we got what we expected and what we didn’t expect. No availability at the Wilderness Lodge. But, we did get the AP rate at ASMo! Totally unexpected. I could call back and see if any AP rooms have opened up at the Lodge, but if there were we’d be forced to spend more money. So, I’m afraid to call.

I’m still a little bitter about the whole email/postcard PIN discounts, but I won’t let that ruin a great vacation.

Thrity-five days till we leave. Yikes! I better get busy.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

Goofmeister--I am so glad you are back with your trip reports! They are the BEST!! And this prequel is no exception. Keep us posted.

I see you are staying in Natchitoches. My husband and I met at boarding school there.

 

[Goofmeister]

Ivan and the yellow brick road

Ivan the terrible destroyed our bridge, a symbol of our vacation memories, when it passed through Pensacola. The bridge marks the beginning of our videos. Like a dear old friend that you can only visit every few years and then run over them down on your way to somewhere else. The very security of our trip, our vacation dreams and our memories of past trips were shaken. It was hard to accept.

I consoled myself by rerouting our journey along I-20, cutting through Alabama to Marianna, Florida. I didn't like this plan. Not one bit.

So I kept an unhealthy vigil on the Pensacola news looking for any sign of hope, and then one day I called my wife.

"Guess what?" Me
"What now." moaned Mrs. G tired of my daily DPA (Disney Planning Agony)
"They're-gonna-have-one-side-of-Escambia-Bay-Bridge-open-for-us. Just us. And early to boot. I'm canceling hotel plans and printing new maps. I've got so much to do." I blurted overly excited.
"Yea!" exclaimed Mrs. G relieved that the dead horse was getting a reprieve.

Thanks to the unstoppable spirit of Floridians our plans changed yet again.

I put everything back to the way it should be, and so I was finally free to agonize about the traffic.

 

[MazdaUK]

Can't wait for the rest!!

 

[Goofmeister]

The date was October 16, 2004. We picked Samantha up from school, and then we hit the road. After pounding on it for a while. We decided we’d better get in the car and start driving to our first stop, Natchitoches, LA. By the way, Natchitoches is not pronounced the way it is spelled. Natchitochians? Natchitochites? are considerate enough to politely but forcefully remind you that the correct pronunciation is Nac-a-dish. I think. It’s definitely not Natch-o-chics or even Natch-it-toe-shus. Of course I live in state where Miami (my-am-e) is pronounced My-am-a. Go figure.

Why does it take one hour to get out of town? It doesn’t matter how hard I pre-plan. We can never leave town without running a few last minute errands. And these errands always take exactly fifty-three minutes to complete. In this case I had to take the dogs to the kennel. A thirty-minute detour at least.

Dog 1, Princess Daisy Belle II will play the adorable tiny Cocker. Dog 2, played by the late Sir Riley Flash of Midnight (not so tiny Cocker). (I miss you boy. He was a dear friend who passed away recently. I still expect to see him sleeping next to her. I am seriously regretting this now. <sigh>)

Dog 1(Daisy): “Oh boy a ride in the car! I love the car! Are we getting French fries, please oh please French fries!”
Dog 2 (Riley): In his best Eeyore voice. “Oh bother, not the car. Why do we have to go anywhere? Nothing ever good comes from a ride in the car.”

As we near the vet’s office, they smell trouble.

Dog 1(Daisy): “They have fries at the vet’s? When did that happen? Can I have your fries, please, please, please? I can’t smell them. Maybe if I smash my nose on the window?”
Dog 2(Riley): Still in Eeyore voice. “I knew it, nothing good ever happens to me. Maybe I can crawl under the seat. My head is stuck. Why does everything happen to me.”

While we are waiting, they are sure that this is not a good thing.

Dog 1(Daisy): “We’re not getting fries? When are we getting fries? Can we get fries later? Maybe the fries are outside? Yes, there are definitely no fries here. Outside, now, please?”
Dog 2(Riley): “So, I don’t want to be here. I’ll just be leaving now. No? Ok how about a little gift. The gift of poop. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.”

And finally, they are lead away fry-less, heads down, tails between their legs. No one else will go into the kennel with me, they are afraid if they saw the pup’s misery we wouldn’t be able to leave them behind. And I can’t have that. We have got to get to Dallas before three.

Perhaps we got food, maybe we needed some money; did we forget something at home? I just don’t remember (and frankly who really cares) but a half-hour later we were finally on the turnpike headed South.

The trip was gratefully uneventful especially since we had to drive through Dallas after three. Doh! We stopped at a McDonald's on I-20 just west of the Texas-Louisiana border. Mainly because we were hungry, but they also had a playground for the kids. They played; I worried about how much time we were losing. It was a mixed bag. We decided to eat outside while the kids played, all was good until...Ryan climbed all the way up the back and forth step thingy they had to get to the tubes. He was stuck and scared. I of course race to rescue the little guy, but there is a small problem. I'm six-foot-two. The little back and forth thingys are designed for those under three feet. I had to crawl, twist and snake my way up to my son. There was not enough headroom for me to pick him up, so I had to sit on the step below and pull him to me. Did I mention it had recently rained? No? Well, it was perhaps because it didn't occur to me, or I wouldn't have sat in the puddle of water. Nice, wet butt. Oh boy, won't driving be fun now with squishy undies. At least I was still a hero to my little boy. He was safely returned to the ground, and ran around us until we were ready to leave. His sister was very concerned she really loves her little brother. Needless to say we didn't stay much longer. Not Surprisingly, they didn’t complain about getting back into the car.

Every time we stop, we get gas. Can’t run out of gas, this would be bad, way bad. Gassed up in more ways than one, we head back on to that ribbon of highway. Everybody, This land is your land, those in the back, this land is my land, just the men, from California to the, anyone c’mon, anyone, anyone, Bueller?…Ok never mind… Finally, we arrive at a nice Hampton Inn just off the highway (early by the way and no singing), unpacked and crashed for the night.

Unpacking the car consisted of putting all the kid’s goodies (AKA crap) back in their bags. Which is really silly and pointless. Never the less, we did this every time we stopped. I’d get gas and clean the windshield (stupid bugs), and Mrs. G would clean the backseat. I swear as soon as we were on the road again I’d hear an evil little chuckle, as my daughter would dump the bag. Or, maybe I was driving too much and slowly losing my mind. I digress which is more interesting that what happened anyway. After the bags are repacked at the hotel, I demonstrate my pack mule manliness and attempt to carry everything at once. Ostensibly this is so I only have to make one trip. Actually, I’m just trying to impress my girl. So, of course, I over estimate my strength and I about die by the time we reach our room. No worries, I obviously recovered or I couldn’t have brought you the fearsome tale I am spinning now. Thank you for your kind words of sympathy. You are really a dear friend.

Departure day was a success. We departed. The next day did not start as well. In fact, the trip almost ended before it began.

 

[MazdaUK]

Hey, I'm reading this almost live! Does that tell you anything? Does it?


OK, here's a hint - more more more (please!)

 

[Goofmeister]

Cast: Goofmeister DH32, Mrs. G or Angie DW32, Samantha DD5, Ryan DS1.5ish

Dateline, October 17, 2004 6:30 am. It was a cool morning. The remnants of fog still hung in the air. Everything was covered in dew.

After checking out of the hotel, and packing the car it was time to dole out a Disney surprise to the kids. Everyone was happy and ready to go. Mrs. G had packed a special bag of prizes to be awarded at random intervals depending on the behavior of the children.

Good behavior = present.

Restless child = present.

Asking for present = no present

Bad Behavior = no present

Whipped into a present-grubbing frenzy from the day before they were bouncing out of their seats. Well, Samantha was, Ryan was just happy about all the noise. All the noise, noise, noise, noise. This prize was a biggie, a Kim Possible DVD. That girl is crazy with a capital K about KP. As she was pulling the plastic off the packaging I was backing the car out of the parking spot.

This hotel was built on a low hill. The parking lot was partially carved out of said hill. I’m driving my wife’s car, her baby, her black beauty.

For the longest time we just had one car. And while it was all we could afford, it was a hassle. We were finally able to buy a second vehicle, and I somehow convinced her we needed a minivan. The van was great. I loved it, Mrs. G not so much. She loved it as much as Republicans love Howard Dean, or for that matter as much as HD loves Republicans. Somehow I didn’t know how she felt before we bought the van. I know now. After you have been married awhile it becomes easier to read your spouse’s moods. She was subtle, and it only took me two years of “I hate minivans” before we traded it in on the car she wanted. Did I mention I was driving?

I look over my right shoulder, nothing. I look over my left shoulder, only the low curb bordering the parking lot. I look at my daughter and wife laughing and smiling. The car comes to a sudden and noisy stop.

“What was that!?” She cried alarmed and angry.

I looked out the rear view mirror, and I could see nothing. I looked out my window, and saw only the low curb.

“We must’ve hit the curb.” I answer hopefully. Hopefully for my sake that is.

I get out, and I immediately see what happened. The curb starts to rise becoming a retaining wall for the hill precisely where I was backing. I would’ve had enough room, otherwise. The result was an ugly scrape on the rear bumper. Angie had gotten out of the car to see.

“@#*$&, I’m going in to talk to the manager!” I quickly blurt. Hoping my anger will redirect her fury to the hotel management. I honestly thought the hotel was partially to blame. It was very difficult to see the transition from curb to wall.
“Why weren’t you looking where you were going? How can you not see a wall? I saw it before we even got in the car.” She whips.

Here is where I make a tactical mistake. “Then why didn’t you say anything?” I huff. Huffing is not good. My wife is a wonderful woman. She is caring to a fault, funny, and much smarter than I am. However, huffing is and was not something I should’ve done. And I knew it. Many people may wonder why men, if I may so generalize, when backed into a corner will say or do something that ends up making the situation worse. Stupidity is the most obvious reason, but in this case I was thinking. I was thinking if she had said something, I would’ve known not to hit the wall. She should know I’m an idiot and thought of that before. In fact, why was I even driving.

I don’t remember what exactly was said but it was most likely her telling me how stupid it is to back into something and me saying how sorry I was. After huffing at her though, I had decided that the best action was to keep my mouth shut as much as possible. I can’t stand for her to be mad at me, and I always think I can fix everything. You have to realize how hard it was for me to keep quiet.

By the way we did not go to the hotel, after all it was my fault. I ran into the wall. It didn’t run into me. At least I’m pretty sure it didn’t. Now that I think about it, that wall did look a little s-u-s-p-i-c-i-o-u-s and guilty. Hmmm.

At this point I’m feeling like the vacation is over. There is no way that she’ll get over this. Because I didn’t know what else to do, I decided to keep driving. I wasn’t going home unless she wanted to. I waited. The silence was strangling me. For over two hours, little was said.

My wife continuously amazes me. Just when I think I know her, she does something unexpected. Just north of Baton Rouge she made a few last digs at me, and then it was over. It was almost like it never happened. I was confused and relieved but I dared not speak of it for fear of the return of the wrath. The Wrath of Mom, you don’t even want to know what she’ll stick in your ear.

We started to get hungry for lunch, and we knew that Slidell, LA had a McDonald’s with a playground just off the interstate. It’s gone now I think another victim of Katrina. It was a nice place to stop. It turned out that the cool humid morning had become a warm humid day. It was almost too hot to eat outside, but we did anyway. The kids played, and ate, and played, and ate. Angie and I talked, and decided after lunch we’d stop in at Wal-mart and get some disposable changing pads.

Of course Ryan needs to be changed now, and I have the duty, nay the honor of changing him. My wife stops me heading to the bathroom.

“You don’t have any changing pads.” She says. I blink stupidly at her. “That’s why we are going to Wal-mart.”
“Ok.” I say as I start toward the bathroom again.
“You can’t change him here, you’ll have to do it in the car.” She says, I was glad she was using words I understood. Plus, no subtlety which was also good.

Ever change a fifteen-month old in a bucket seat? How about in a bucket seat that isn’t wide enough? How about in a bucket seat that isn’t wide enough so that he hits his head on the center console or his butt hangs out the door? How about on the driver’s side where there is a convenient steering wheel to use for leverage? How about changing a dirty diaper that has leaked a little in a bucket seat? How about all that, and with a kid that doesn’t want to be changed so he grabs a handful of foulness while trying to stop you? Plus it’s hot and humid and child number one can’t wait to go to Wal-freaking-mart. Been there have you? Really? Well, God Bless. Of course, I wasn’t about to complain after backing the car into the Natchidoches attack wall. No sir not me.

We spoil our kids, but we expect them to behave like well-mannered children. In Wal-mart they acted like well-mannered children, and so we spoiled them with more prizes. Samantha got this very neat magnetic paper doll toy, and Ryan got a turtle drawing table. Neither one would share with me though. On second thought I was driving, it probably wasn’t such a good idea. Oh, we bought a whole bunch of other stuff we couldn’t live without too. Want to see the receipt? Do you? Huh? Do ya? No? Why are you looking at me like that?

Wal-mart is like that you go in planning to spend ten dollars, and come out spending five times that much. Disney’s like that too…Hmmm. Hear me evil marketing forces, I am weak to your campaigns, take pity on me. Do not tempt me with shiny new things, I will be forced to purchase until my fingers bleed, until my credit is ruined, until I can no longer feed my family. If you destroy me who will buy? Who will buy?

Anyway, I didn’t freak about how long all this took, because I was still giddy about being forgiven for crashing the car. We got gas, cleaned up the back seat, and drove over a swamp, under a bay, and into a traffic jam. Escambia Bay Bridge west bound had one lane open for our driving pleasure. It went faster than expected, and we cataloged most of it on our video camera.

We of course were amazed to see up-close the destructive force of a hurricane, and how man vainly attempts to hold Mother Nature at bay. I also wondered if we had been on the east bound side if we could of jumped any of the gaps in the bridge like in The Dukes of Hazzard. Those boys never meant no harm, but they were in trouble with the law since the day they were born. I decided that I was glad we didn’t have to try. Crashing into the Gulf would’ve put a real damper on the vacation for sure. I’d already pushed it by attempting to murder a poor concrete wall.

Sometimes after being in a car for nearly twelve hours you just want to get out, forever. To say we were happy to arrive early at our Microtel in Marianna, FL would be like saying the Democrats will be happy when Bush leaves office. I’m trying here, really I am. I parked the car in the loading zone to check in while the family waits.

“Hello, you have a reservation for Goofmeister.”
“No.”
“Hu..Ima..Hu..You don’t?”
“No sir, and we’re all full.”
“How is this possible?” I gave them my reservation number that I had from months before.
“Oh yes, here it is.”
“Oh good.” I smile, relieved.
“You cancelled it a week ago.”
“No. No, I did not. I called to verify it hadn’t been cancelled.”
“I’m sorry sir, maybe the hotel across the way still has some rooms.”

I had originally made reservations here before Ivan, but I cancelled it after Ivan, but then I rebooked after the I10 Bridge was repaired. I had called a week before to confirm all my reservations. While talking to them, they mentioned the previous cancellation. I gave them the low down, but they must have mistaken my confirmation as a request to cancel. Either that or they hate me. But how could that be?

You should also know, there was no availability in Tallahassee over a year before. So I knew if we didn’t get a hotel in Mariana we’d end up driving a very long way to find a room. I tell the family the bad news, and we quickly limp across to the Country Inn and Suites. While I’m checking in an older couple asks what is the availability only to find out that we had snagged the last room. Yea us! Oh I was so happy. In your face kindly older strangers!

Why wouldn’t I be happy I’m on vacation with my family, scraped my wife’s bumper and she still loves me, we didn’t have to drive anymore today, and the Country Inn and Suites saved my tail.

I fueled the car and fed the family Arby’s for dinner. The kids ran off all their cooped up energy, and we finally fell into an emotionally drained sleep. Tomorrow, we check into ASMo.

Can’t sleep.

Too excited.

 

[MazdaUK]

Another great installement! Kepp it up!

She should know I’m an idiot and thought of that before.

My DH should have known it was asking for trouble to get me to meet him from the station on refuse day when we had 2 wheelie bins and 2 recycling boxes at the gateway - hey, if I HADN'T scraped the side of the car all down the gatepost I might have tipped over one of the bins, and how would THAT have looked? Anyway, that's why we have insurance, to take care of these little mishaps

 

[Goofmeister]

Thanks for the encouragement. It really helps keep me going.

The car was a sensitive subject for a while until she backed it into her Mom's house and gave it another scrape. She didn't take it as hard since I had already done damage to it.