Happy happy happy! trip story from Feb 2012

[bumbershoot]

Well that's just splendiforous.

The PPH pool is closed during our stay?

Harumph.

On the other hand, when that happens they let you swim elsewhere.

 

[kaoden39]

I thought that Viggo Mortensen was incredibly hot in the movies. Sigh.


Poor R. He really is going to need this vacation.



I think that you can connect the printer with no problems. Loren hooked his school one up yesterday. The school spares nothing on their computers. They have faxes. Which is good because I have to faxe things to the school all the time.


Oh you should check out the new pool at the DLH!! I know that is the one I would want to check out.

 

[bumbershoot]

Ohhh, Viggo. Have you seen Hidalgo? Yay Viggo. (not that unlike the character of Strider, but that's OK...it's Viggo) And I love watching the special features; I learned that Viggo not only bought the horse that he rode in the movies, but when he found out that a stunt person really REALLY wanted to buy a horse she had fallen for, but couldn't afford it (it was a stallion and major bucks), he bought it for her, as a gift. Viggo....


I'm sure the printer will be fine. But you might know how it is (maybe not, not sure)...you get used to having a spouse around, and sometimes electronics things end up being in the domain of the male spouse... So even if you were a confident, capable single woman before the spouse appeared, those skills get rusty. And it's fun to dust off the skills (even if dusting doesn't do much for rust). AND it's fun to show your kidlet that his ma is capable of such things.



I'm now happy the PPH pool is closed. Although...I believe our concierge room is supposed to be one of the ones facing the pool, so that's going to be odd. I didn't realize the DLH pool was finished so I'm pretty psyched to be able to try it!

Gandalf is talking to Pippin about the white shores now....E is using an exercise ball (a weird, low, double ended one that I think was supposed to be used for ab exercises?) as a horse, a tie as the reins, and his broken down foam Prince Phillip sword to act out the riding scenes. And now Eowyn is fighting.... (special features showed that she could barely move after filming this scene, it was so hard on her)

 

[kaoden39]

What a great story about Viggo. I think I saw Hidalgo, not sure.


Oh I know what you mean. After my illness and stroke in 2007 Scotty and the kids wouldn't let me do anything. I would get so frustrated and then they stopped. Then when I needed help I wouldn't ask. I finally had to learn a happy medium. It's important that kids especially boys to know that mom is not helpless.


I need to get the DVDs so I can watch the special features.

 

[bumbershoot]

We tend to feel that the special features of many films really enhance the movies. Love them for Pirates, LOTR, and even Phantom Menace.

Since Peter Jackson really did know what he was getting into, it seems he filmed EVERYTHING, and had the knowledge that people would be very interested in the behind the scenes stuff.

Oh, and there's also a feature that shows that the stuntmen (mostly Maori but some not) really respected Viggo. At one point they do a traditional Maori dance to honor the "kings" of the movies, the actor who played Theoden, and Viggo. It's so amazing.

[side note, Robert met someone who was an extra on the set, when he was in New Zealand two years ago...he was a big Maori guy (Robert feels so at home with Maori men, he fits right in!) who had been one of the UruqHai.]

I'm very Viggo-focused right now, LOL. But I think that every actor was just superb in the trilogy, just perfect.


In the second Hobbit movie, Benedict Cumberbatch will be in it. For those who don't know, he's the one who plays Sherlock in the new BBC version, along with Martin Freeman playing Watson. I'm not sure they'll actually have any scenes together (I think Cumberbatch is only a voiceover, and I truly don't remember the book at all), but since The Hobbit's filming interfered with a full 1st season, and the filming of the 2nd season, of the new Sherlock Holmes show, I'm glad that BC got a role in it.

Plus, that name...is that not an amazing name?



OK, printer stuff! Some is Flex Plan-related, some is TRIP related. See, the trip is being discussed!

 

[kaoden39]

I am excited for The Hobbit to come out. That is my favorite of the books so the character of Bilbo has got to be right.


It looks like your weather is going to be beautiful for your trip. Our trip looks like the cooler weather and at least clouds are taking over. Oh yay.

 

[bumbershoot]

I am excited for The Hobbit to come out. That is my favorite of the books so the character of Bilbo has got to be right.


It looks like your weather is going to be beautiful for your trip. Our trip looks like the cooler weather and at least clouds are taking over. Oh yay.

Never fear, not too long ago I was seeing clouds in our trip's forecast! I'll huff and puff at any clouds, make them go away for your trip.

 

[bumbershoot]

I spent yesterday working up lists to do.

I spent today (let's pretend "today" is today, OK? I haven't been to bed yet so it's still today) working on those lists, starting to pack, cleaning up a bit (I may have mentioned before that Robert's the neat one, not me? and Eamon is however the adult-in-charge is...). Also, helping Roberto figure out the city he's in. Last city he didn't go out, just wasn't really safe. Hotel had a free shuttle to go to the public areas, you don't go out at night by yourself, etc. This city is a good going-out place, but we didn't get to research it! I bought a guidebook on Kindle and I've been scouring it and shooting him emails, just in case he gets half a day in there to wander.



Of course, there he is, doing REAL travel. And then going to Disney/Universal. It's probably all going to seem very silly to him. Wonder if he'll actually enjoy the World Showcase if we do the day at Epcot, or if he'll just giggle the whole time?

 

[kaoden39]

Now the weather is looking better. My major concern is that I wear Birkenstocks all the time and I do not like wearing closed in shoes. I have hiking boots that I can wear if need be but I so hope it doesn't rain.


I think that R will just be thrilled to spend this time with you and E. That the travel with work is a total different thing.

 

[IndayMichelle]

Done lurking. I'm kind of late hopping on here but...

E and I have been watching the trilogy of Lord of the Rings. We have the awesome extended DVD set with the scenes-that-weren't-in-the-theater seemlessly blended in...I just love it. It's such a good series of movies. Almost every scene with Aragorn I'm crying.

I'm so so so so glad that Peter Jackson was, ultimately, put in charge of The Hobbit. I cannot even imagine wanting to see it if he hadn't been The One to make it.

Had to say how much I also love the extended versions of LOTR! If you get really into it, then also watch the appendices. It's hours and hours of how they made the movies. Lots of interviews, costume design, location scouting, and other fluff.

And I understand about the HP video game. DBF and I used to spend hours playing on the PS3. Now he plays alone. I've learned to knit. Lesser of two evils?

 

[bumbershoot]

Ah yes, Birks in the rain isn't that fun! I remember it feeling a bit slimy? (from my rowing days)


Knitting vs PS3. The eternal question. Well, for someone who has just learned to knit, that is. Eamon and I have been playing some Lego Star Wars, and that has been fun, but he's saving more Lego Harry Potter 1-4 for when he can play with robert. And I've been doing the same with HP 5-7. Not sure why. But it just seems that other things feel more important. And it seems to be more fun with him here, even if I don't let him play (the split screen thing in HP with two players almost makes me ill...the Star Wars game doesn't do that, you just have to stay close by each other) unless I absolutely need a 2nd player to do something.

I finished my skinny-scarf! That was neat; I've never had something in mind like that then just made it. Even with sewing, unless you have the ability to make your own patterns or the mad skills to totally wing it, you are just going by what someone else thought of. But I decided I wanted a scarf that was narrow and long, and i made it! It's like 10 stitches, just the knit/garter stitch, and it's very VERY long so I can wrap it around on both sides but still have it a certain length. yay!

So this is good news, because it means I can make a hat for Robert while we're on the plane, one that might actually fit his noggin!


Packing packing packing today. But also trying to leave the house somewhat respectable. Absolutely saddened by company stocks, though. They just HAD to post those year end results before opening the trading window? Couldn't have done it the other way? (no, they couldn't have, or hello insider trading, LOL)



OK, back to packing and cleaning and clearing. Off to go put new floor-saver disc things on the bottom of the coffee table then get a move on!

 

[kaoden39]

Yes, they do get slimy. It is a rather gross feeling.


I can knit a little bit, but I can crochet a bunch. I love crocheting especially scarves. I love video games too. I especially love RPGs where I can lose my identity.

 

[IndayMichelle]

Knitting vs PS3. The eternal question. Well, for someone who has just learned to knit, that is. Eamon and I have been playing some Lego Star Wars, and that has been fun, but he's saving more Lego Harry Potter 1-4 for when he can play with robert. And I've been doing the same with HP 5-7. Not sure why. But it just seems that other things feel more important. And it seems to be more fun with him here, even if I don't let him play (the split screen thing in HP with two players almost makes me ill...the Star Wars game doesn't do that, you just have to stay close by each other) unless I absolutely need a 2nd player to do something.

I finished my skinny-scarf! That was neat; I've never had something in mind like that then just made it. Even with sewing, unless you have the ability to make your own patterns or the mad skills to totally wing it, you are just going by what someone else thought of. But I decided I wanted a scarf that was narrow and long, and i made it! It's like 10 stitches, just the knit/garter stitch, and it's very VERY long so I can wrap it around on both sides but still have it a certain length. yay!

I can knit a little bit, but I can crochet a bunch. I love crocheting especially scarves. I love video games too. I especially love RPGs where I can lose my identity.

I love the Lego games! I should say "loved" since I haven't played them in over a year. I work at PAX (Penny Arcade Expo) gaming con every year. Last year I felt a bit of a fraud knowing I haven't been playing.

I took a crochet class last year to learn to make flowers. I'm not very good. I'm better at hoarding crochet hooks and yarn than making flowers.

And, so I'm not hijacking, knitting (or crocheting) is a great way to keep yourself occupied while waiting for parades, F!, or Woc. I keep a small project on circular needles in my purse at all times.

All right. The list making continues.

 

[kaoden39]

I love the Lego games! I should say "loved" since I haven't played them in over a year. I work at PAX (Penny Arcade Expo) gaming con every year. Last year I felt a bit of a fraud knowing I haven't been playing.

I took a crochet class last year to learn to make flowers. I'm not very good. I'm better at hoarding crochet hooks and yarn than making flowers.

And, so I'm not hijacking, knitting (or crocheting) is a great way to keep yourself occupied while waiting for parades, F!, or Woc. I keep a small project on circular needles in my purse at all times.

All right. The list making continues.

That is a brilliant idea. Someone else once recommended taking a deck of cards.

 

[WDWJonasGirl]

I'm still here Michele!!!

 

[kaoden39]

I'm still here Michele!!!

Hi Kaitlin. This is bumbershoots trip report.

 

[bumbershoot]

I can knit a little bit, but I can crochet a bunch. I love crocheting especially scarves. I love video games too. I especially love RPGs where I can lose my identity.

So cool that you crochet! I tried and tried to teach myself for years, but never got anywhere. However, it's next on the yarn-project list for homeschool, so I figure we'll get to it maybe by summertime, once we both get really good at the knit stitch.

I love the Lego games! I should say "loved" since I haven't played them in over a year. I work at PAX (Penny Arcade Expo) gaming con every year. Last year I felt a bit of a fraud knowing I haven't been playing.

I took a crochet class last year to learn to make flowers. I'm not very good. I'm better at hoarding crochet hooks and yarn than making flowers.

And, so I'm not hijacking, knitting (or crocheting) is a great way to keep yourself occupied while waiting for parades, F!, or Woc. I keep a small project on circular needles in my purse at all times.

All right. The list making continues.

I'd never even heard of PAX until that whole thing happened a month or so ago, with the rep for the electronic company lost his mind in a reply to a customer and the whole thing went viral...

Great idea to keep a project on hand! Knitting was FABULOUS for the plane, that's for sure! Since I'm only doing the one stitch (making hubster a hat that might actually fit him and I'm keeping it simple) my mind goes a little wobbly, so I had my Kindle out and I'd just knit while reading. (can't do that with a paper-pages book) People thought it was odd (I got a few comments by people passing by in the aisle on the plane) but oh well! Kept me occupied and happy!

That is a brilliant idea. Someone else once recommended taking a deck of cards.

Ooh nice. We have a Harry Potter Uno deck, and I keep meaning to bring it places with us.

 

[kaoden39]

Hi there!! Did you have a wonderful trip?

 

[bumbershoot]

It was so long and multi-layered that I had to look at my pictures to remind me of the fun we had! How sad is that?

The big bummer of the whole thing is how horribly my feet hurt. They hurt before we left, and it didn't get any better, especially when I realized I'd left my Crocs Athens at home. But apart from that nonsense, it was good.


How about your trip?

 

[kaoden39]

Wow that sounds like your trip was eventful for sure!


Our trip was amazing!! So much so that Scotty surprised me by upgrading our park hoppers for APs and asking me to set up a family trip for November.