How is a Disney Trip Like a Writing Desk: A PTR through Wonderland UPDATED: 9/18/10

[All7OfUs]

I have a new must-eat snack target! THANK YOU!

Hope you're having a wonderful time in TN, Tink! Should be lovely this time of year!

 

[If U Had Wings]

Have a wonderful vacation!

 

[Pollito916]

I hope you're having a great trip!

 

[pooh'smate]

I hope you are having a good vacation Tink.

 

[AshClan]

Hmmm, it's a bite quiet over here, no? How was Tennessee?

Anyhoo....I JUST got caught up. Mainly because I'm leaving on vacation today and just don't feel like being productive. Ironic, really, because this is one of those times that I really SHOULD be productive

Loved the foodie updates. Because, like ZZUB, my middle name is food. (Maybe we're related...in an opposite side of the country and opposite sides of the political spectrum kind of way...) All your choices sound great. I am not a huge fan of Whispering Canyon, either, but I still have high hopes for you and Ohana.

As far as the Earl of Sandwich in Logan. O.M.G. how did I not know this?!?! I did some research, and it appears that it's in Terminal E. Aside from Southwest (which I've only flown on twice, both times from Manchester), all the other flights in Terminal E are international. So I think that's why I wasn't aware of the heavenly slice of sandwich happiness that is available over there. I will not make any promises, though, that I won't take a trip over there one of these days. Geesh, I drive right past the airport many an evening on my way home from work (when the Tip O'Neill tunnel is excessively trafficky). This is a good idea. Tink, if you want to give it a try, let me know! I'd be happy to meet you there some evening for a pretend Disney dinner!! Even though the parking would cost more than the meal.....

 

[TarzansKat]

Hey, folks!

Tink had planned to update today, but unfortunately, is having to limit her typing. She took a bit of a spill and may have a sprained thumb in addition to a swollen right knee.

She's doing okay, but just not up to par, and wanted me to let you know. Let's send her some so she feels better soon!

 

[pooh'smate]

Hope your thumb and knee feel better soon, Tink.

 

[Lady Lallie]

Feel better, Tink!!

 

[If U Had Wings]

Hope your doing okay Tink! Take it easy and get some rest.

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

Safe travels, Tink!

And TN shall never be the same.

Have a safe trip, my dear.

Have a great trip!!

Hope you're having a wonderful time in TN, Tink! Should be lovely this time of year!

Have a wonderful vacation!

I hope you're having a great trip!

I hope you are having a good vacation Tink.

TN was lovely and I promise a little mini-update on that trip today.

Anyhoo....I JUST got caught up. Mainly because I'm leaving on vacation today and just don't feel like being productive. Ironic, really, because this is one of those times that I really SHOULD be productive

Ah, see, I've solved this lil' conundrum. I'm uber productive the day before my last day so that I can deal with any "emergencies" and just idle about to the point of distraction as I know I'm wont to do on the last day.

Because, like ZZUB, my middle name is food. (Maybe we're related...in an opposite side of the country and opposite sides of the political spectrum kind of way...)

I think what would really seal the deal is whether or not you have an all-consuming love for cake.

I did some research, and it appears that it's in Terminal E. Aside from Southwest (which I've only flown on twice, both times from Manchester), all the other flights in Terminal E are international. So I think that's why I wasn't aware of the heavenly slice of sandwich happiness that is available over there. I will not make any promises, though, that I won't take a trip over there one of these days. Geesh, I drive right past the airport many an evening on my way home from work (when the Tip O'Neill tunnel is excessively trafficky). This is a good idea. Tink, if you want to give it a try, let me know! I'd be happy to meet you there some evening for a pretend Disney dinner!! Even though the parking would cost more than the meal.....

This is the best idea I've heard all week.

Hope your thumb and knee feel better soon, Tink.

Feel better, Tink!!

Hope your doing okay Tink! Take it easy and get some rest.

Yesterday was...um...QUITE the day. More on that shortly...



Disney in 67 days!!!

 

[Lady Lallie]

Woo Hoo!! 67 days!!!

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

Woo Hoo!! 67 days!!!

I'm obviously not caught up on your report because...HOW IS YOUR TRIP SO SOON?!?! Did you change you dates again? LOL

 

[Lady Lallie]

I'm obviously not caught up on your report because...HOW IS YOUR TRIP SO SOON?!?! Did you change you dates again? LOL

Guilty as charged. Big long story but in short, was getting overwhelmed with the 5K, didn't want to do the split stay, so we changed our dates again and have a wonderful 9 nights at Riverside now.

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

Guilty as charged. Big long story but in short, was getting overwhelmed with the 5K, didn't want to do the split stay, so we changed our dates again and have a wonderful 9 nights at Riverside now.

Nice!

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

NOTE: The same update is being posted on both of my PTRs.

I've never been of the mind that the ONLY vacation is a Disney vacation. I enjoy every waking (and sleeping) second in the World, but I can also see the benefits of NOT spending time with the Mouse.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder and all that.

Besides, as a child I didn't have the opportunity to fall in love with the 'Disney trip ever year' mentality. Because, frankly, I went twice in the first 13 years of life. We didn't grow up with a lot of money in our house and so the two trips with my grandparents were truly treats. Instead, vacations were spent skiing in the winter (I could write a book solely about the now-hysterical family trips North) and either doing day trips or a week in the Lakes Region of NH in the summer. With a trip to Six Flags in NJ, Cedar Point in Sandusky or to Riverside in Agawam (NOSixFlags) thrown into the mix for variety.

So, whenever talk turns to vacation in the Tinkerbellarella household, I rarely think Disney when it comes to vacations that BF and I take together. And not just because he's been a proud, card-carrying member of the Anti-Disney Man Society. We simply usually end up doing lots of day trips. We've gone to see Cirque du Soleil shows. We've gone to NH. We've done Busch Gardens, Williamsburg. Last year was the Land in FL NOT belonging to the Mick. We've tried twice to go to Six Flags NJ but the first time got nixed because my car needed 4 new tires. The second time BF's car died. We're beginning to think we aren't supposed to ever go there together. Like, ever.

This year obviously became the Year of the Mouse in regards to one of our vacations, but what to do with the other 3? (BF and I have AWESOME time-off benefits. I get six weeks a year. He gets MORE THAN THAT. Jerk. Sometimes.) Our April vacation was spent dilly dallying around the house and doing day trips. It was wonderfully relaxing. And decided upon only because, well, we couldn't decide what to do. Not to mention the June/July and August vacations that were still up in the air.

We'd been tossing around, for some time, visiting BF's family in TN. If by some time you mean for two years. This year was the year it needed to happen. Yes, needed. BF's family history is fairly complex so here's the watered down, 18-minute sitcom without commercials version:

BF's father is one of 10 kiddos, some biological, some not. BF's grandfather is a self-made very wealthy person. But you'd never know it. They aren't overboard extravagant. He and his wife also have the biggest hearts I've ever seen. They'd had 6 kids of their own. When those kids were old enough, they decided they wanted to give some little boy a chance he'd never otherwise have. When they turned up at the orphanage, the nun in charge said she had the perfect little man for them, only there was a problem...he had two brothers. BF's grandmother (we call her Memere - pronounced "mem-ay" for the non-French) took one look and said, "Well then we'll just take all three of them." They then were surprised with one more daughter later in life. I could write reams of stories I've heard from BF's childhood and from his uncles' childhoods - hysterical, exciting, heartwarming, etc. For most of BF's life they lived here in SE MA. When he was in HS they bought and worked a 600 acre cattle/horse ranch in KY. Then they moved to FL and lived near Cocoa. Now they're on a 120 acre ranch in TN. And though it's been a charmed life it hasn't been without difficulty and heartache. Namely, in 2002 they lost their youngest daughter after a 4 year battle with lymphoma. She was my age. And now, BF's grandfather (Pepere - "pep-ay") is ill. This is a man who has lived more life in 82 years than some people could fit in THREE lifetimes. Knowing that his time might actually be winding down, it was simply TIME. BF hadn't seen them in 5 years.

So, we worked out the time (our June vacation: 6/27-7/5), who we'd travel with (BF's brother, SIL and their two girls) and how we'd get there (21 hours in two cars over 2 days). I won't lie. I was nervous. It would be the first time in our entire 12 years of knowing each other that I'd be spending significant time with this part of his family. And by family, I mean his grandparents and 3 of his aunts and uncles, all of the cousins (there are a lot), all of whom live in TN, and one of his uncles that was coming up to visit from FL. It was a little overwhelming.

Would they like me? Really like me? Even if I'm a self-proclaimed city princess and not the least bit a farm girl? Even if I'm a Yankee who likes Obama? Even if my idea of the perfect afternoon is being comfortably curled up with a good book and some sunshine and not racing around in the dirt on a four-wheeler?

Needless. Worrying.

This was one of the most wonderful vacations we've ever spent together. I could right a 28 chapter trip report to cover everything, but I'm not going to, so here are the highlights:

*21 hours in the car, even over 2 days, could be considered torture in some countries. BF and I considered it 21 hours of quality time with each other. And it was. Even the small hissy fit that was had by someone (if by someone you mean ME) somewhere on the NJ Turnpike because really, could they make that road any more difficult for my GPS to figure out??? We dubbed that our 10 minutes of "team building" exercises. Apparently I win the jobs of "team crier" and "team F-bomb dropper". The most beautiful part of the ride was driving through the Blue Ridge Mountains just South of Roanoke, VA, just after dawn as the mist was slowly creeping out of the valleys. Getting to eat at a Golden Corral also rocked. We heart Golden Corral. The worst part of the ride, other than the fact that I got the muscle cramp of the century on the way back, was the number of dead deer on the side of the highway. 16 on the way down. 3 on the way back. And yes, we counted, mostly because it brings me to tears.

*Bucksnort, TN. We're going to retire there. Because when I saw the exit sign, I just KNEW I was always meant to live in a town called Bucksnort.

*BF's grandparents were simply the best part of the trip for me. I can't say enough about them. They are just wonderful. I heard so many stories, learned so much about them (and myself!) and BF and not once did I feel uncomfortable. His Memere, in particular, touched my heart. We shared so many heart-to-hearts and private thoughts and laughs and tears. Ugh, I'm getting all choked up. I'm not ashamed to say that I shed tears the morning we left. I miss them like they are my own flesh and blood. And apparently they would miss us too. Memere called us 4 hours after we got in the car. And then at the end of our first driving day. And again the next day.

*BF's uncles and aunts. Any questions as to why BF is the way he is or where he gets certain tendencies from were answered in 5 short days. These are people who work hard and play hard. They love fiercely and fight loudly. Oh, and they love to tease. Believe me, I never heard the end of it when they discovered I was afraid of riding the four-wheeler. I DID do it. Once. And screamed the whole way. When BF finally pulled it to a stop in front of the house and I removed my claws from his abdomen he turned his head and said, "You do realize we never even did 30mph right?"

*The July 3rd 4th of July Celebration. Because we would be leaving at 6 a.m. on the 4th to begin our trip home, we had the 4th of July on the 3rd. Complete with lots of food (ribs, steaks, burgers, hot dogs, salad with ingredients fresh from the garden), a bonfire, karaoke, s'mores, sparklers and...FIREWORKS. They aren't legal here in MA but down there they sell them out of tents every few hundred feet on the side of the road. Almost $2K was spent on fireworks. And I'm talking the professional grade stuff. Our display (which was done safely and only by sober adults) rivaled that of anything I've ever seen outside of the World. BF and I were actually standing a good ways apart from the family, tending the bonfire, watching them go off together. Very romantical. I can honestly say at that moment in time I was completely enamored with where I was and who I am and who I was with.

*Watermelon. Sold off the back of people's pick-up trucks. For $3 for a WHOLE watermelon. I'm surprised my mouth isn't permanently stained pink. NOM!

*BF's uncle's dog Sprocket. I won't lie. I tried to smuggle him into the packed car. Part pitbull and part rat terrier, this was the most loveable, brave and intelligent dog I've ever met.

*Watching "The Hangover" with BF's uncle and cousins. As NOTHING in that move is DIS-appropriate, I won't say much. For those of you who have seen it, I can say that it was made even more hilarious when Pepere walked in at the exact moment Ken Jeong launched himself out of the trunk. Awkward!

*Sonic. Why doesn't New England have more Sonics??? I think the closest one to me is in Pembroke. Too far.

*Sitting on the front porch and watching the bats dive-bombing the mosquitos and beetles as twilight settled. Then watching the day really give way into the night with the arrival of the fireflies.

*Driving 45 minutes to have dinner and see a movie. Because really, that's the closest "city". And it certainly wasn't a "city" by my standards (think Providence and Boston). They considered it a city because it had more than 1 set of stoplights. It just really opened my eyes to another way of life. Time passes differently, different things are important, and movies are CHEAP! It cost us $16.50 to see a 7:00 p.m. showing of The Last Airbender. That would've cost us $22 at home! But seriously, the simplicity of life there was refreshing.

*The free puppies outside Wal-Mart. We almost brought one home. If I'd brought out the big guns (read: my big, round, pleading baby-blue "PLEASE" stare), our household would be +1 at the moment. But frankly I was scared to think of 21 hours in the car with an 8 week old pup. ::shiver:: The whole experience almost endeared me to Wal-Mart.........'s parking lot. Other than that, the two visits we had to make there were like Chinese water torture. I was more interested in trying to procure everything we needed from the local Piggly Wiggly. Seriously? They carry your groceries to your car for you. I thought BF's head was going to pop with embarrasment.

*Every single time Memere slapped BF upside the head. She does it to everyone (gently) and I began to recognize it as LOVE. LOL

*"Visiting" 11 states (though we were in the car for almost all of them). Some I'd been through many times (MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ). Some were completely new (PA, MD, WV, VA, TN, MS). And for those of you wondering, we were in MS to see the movie and have dinner. The town where BF's family live is at the very bottom of the state, 2 hours from Nashville and 2 hours from Memphis and only 45 min. from MS and AL. (ZZUB, we "Roll Tide'd" in the car just for you when we saw the sign for Alabama!)

Oh my gosh, I just realized there is SO MUCH MORE I could write, but this has already become a much bigger animal than I'd anticipated. And I still want to share with you my H-E-DoubleHockeySticks day yesterday. So, to sum up, there is NOTHING about this trip I would've changed except to have made it longer. I'm SO GLAD we went, on a million levels. And personally so grateful that BF got to have that time with his Pepere.

Now, this post was supposed to have gone up yesterday. But yesterday had other plans. And I, in retrospect, was not a fan.

I'd had a really busy week. We returned to work the day after coming home and catch-up has been crazy-busy. We had a fairly full weekend as well. As a matter of fact, today is my first day even opening the DISBoards page. I was looking forward to some semblance of normal yesterday.

Ha.

I started the day with a walk, part of my training for the 1/2 Marathon next February. And took a spill. A painful, bloody spill. There is a house on our street that is, well, not well kept. The people that own it have an asphalt driveway but, for some reason unbeknownst to me, they always have gravel spilling out of the bottom of their driveway onto the sidewalk and into the street. Big gravel, not the tiny, sandy stuff. Actual rocks. I'm always careful when I walk by there. Yesterday, though, the gravel had my number. A stone turned just so under my foot and had my flying forward and down. My phone and keys went skidding out (cracking my phone's face...grrrr), and I land first on my right hand and knee (I'm right handed) and then skidding on my left hand and knee. I've got road rash to the nth degree on my left palm, though my left knee is only lightly bruised. My right palm, the meaty part near my thumb, landed hard right onto the sharp edge of a rock. While it didn't break the skin, I also couldn't move my thumb all that much. And today my palm is a lovely shade of lavender. My right knee got pretty scraped up and a little bruised.

Not a nice way to start the day.

After BF helped me clean up, ice my hand, convince me NOT to just go back to bed, and get ready for work (he's such a lovey...mostly) I continued my day. Where I promptly missed my train by 30 seconds and had to sit in my car for a half hour waiting for the next one.

I wish that was the end of the story.

When I finally got into the city and was walking through the outside part of the train station, I was doing so very carefully as the platforms were still wet and very slippery from the weekend's rain.

Mhmm.

I know you see where this is going.

Despite all of my care, I soon found myself hurtling toward the pavement for the second time in almost as many hours. And guess where I landed?

Yes, on my right hand and knee.

I would describe the pain as....EXPLOSIVE.

Thankfully some kind people stopped and helped me limp into the station. One woman stayed with me to make sure I was ok and she even stayed and listened as I practically incoherently babbled about how I'd already fallen once that day. She offered me cab fare to get to work when she found out I was going to walk. I thanked her but declined.

I should've taken her up on that.

While limping pathetically to work, I stopped into CVS for bandages and bacitracin. At that point I was feeling so pitiful, had just fought with BF on the phone and figured what could possibly happen next?

Figures.

NEVER THINK THAT.

And no, I didn't fall.

The CVS I was at is a very small, compact store. It's in the Financial District and really just sells the essentials. All the aisles are short and cramped. It just so happens the aisle that houses the band-aids also houses the home pregnancy tests. I reached the aisle to discover a young girl, seated on the floor in front of the tests, crying hysterically and babbling away in Spanish to someone on her cell phone, boxes all over the floor in front of her.

And guess who needs to ask her to move?

Suddenly my bloody knee and swelling hand didn't seem so important.

I felt so bad as I very quietly said "Excuse me" so I could snatch up my box of "Active Wear", legal-paper-sized bandages and my bulk tube of anti-bacterial medicine.

I'm happy to report that the day went more smoothly after that and today I'm feeling much better, if still stiff and sore. And I'm ready to move forward with everything in my week. Including my PTRs. Now that I've updated you on all things non-Disney from the past two weeks or so, you should have a trip-related update in the next couple of days. I hope everyone had a fantastic 4th and is looking forward to the second half of summer. I know many of you have your own trips just passed or quickly approaching - have fun! And keep stopping in to see what's new and say hi. Lots of fun things in store....

 

[TarzansKat]

I'm so glad you had a good time meeting BF's family and...dare I say...experiencing a different culture? It's like a different way of life down there, so to me that's like a whole new culture.

Makes you realize that we really are Yankees.

It sounds like the family were the sort of people that made you feel right at home, and I'm so glad you were able to bond with them and see BF's roots, so to speak.

And as far as what happened to you yesterday, all I have to say is, thank God it's a new day, because you needed one.

 

[MRYPPNS]

You've written all these wonderful things about your family and vacation but of course I have to comment on this:

I reached the aisle to discover a young girl, seated on the floor in front of the tests, crying hysterically and babbling away in Spanish to someone on her cell phone, boxes all over the floor in front of her.

Did she pee on the stick right there in that small cramped aisle??? Until you actually pee on the stick and get a result what is there to cry about???? Was she confused by the many brands? Did she not know if see would need a multi-test kit pack? Was she wondering if the CVS brand would work as well as EPT???? Did she lose her coupon?

Let's all hope she only got one pink line.

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

It sounds like the family were the sort of people that made you feel right at home, and I'm so glad you were able to bond with them and see BF's roots, so to speak.

From Day 1 to Day 5, I was made to feel 100% part of the family. It was an amazing experience we hope to repeat soon. Sans the 42 hours in the car.

And as far as what happened to you yesterday, all I have to say is, thank God it's a new day, because you needed one.

DUDE, right?!

You've written all these wonderful things about your family and vacation but of course I have to comment on this:



Did she pee on the stick right there in that small cramped aisle??? Until you actually pee on the stick and get a result what is there to cry about???? Was she confused by the many brands? Did she not know if see would need a multi-test kit pack? Was she wondering if the CVS brand would work as well as EPT???? Did she lose her coupon?

Let's all hope she only got one pink line.

From what I could understand (my knowledge of Spanish slang, particularly when hysterically babbled is limited) she already kind of knew but needed to KNOW.

I'm hoping for the one pink line for her too.

 

[jenjolt]

First of all I'm so glad you had a great vacation meeting up with BF's family!!! Sounds like a lot of fun was had by all!!!!!

OOOH and I love Sonic!! So YUMMY!!!!!!

WOW, I'm so sorry about the day you had...when it rains it pours doesn't it! I hope your hand and knee are healing up okay!!

 

[Pollito916]

Sounds like you had a great vacation with BF's family! The south really is a different world, so much more relaxed than we yanks are used to!

Sorry about the accidents when you got back - I can't believe you fell on the exact same spot again! I hope you are feeling better soon!