I Told You Driving Was Bad For Your Health! *2/2* NEW TRIP REPORT LINK P102

[Wood Nymph]

I always run on vacation but I do always take my phone with me. I try to be really careful and aware of my surroundings and I never use ear buds or listen to music. There's an inherent risk, but I am willing to take it. If I really can't find a decent place to run (which can happen) I use the treadmill.

One of your trip reports inspired me to go back to running again just so I would be able to run this winter when are are at the WL. I ran for about 13 years then slacked off for the last two. We have stayed at the BC for something like twenty years and one of my favorite things to do was to sneak out while everyone was still sleeping and run around the Boardwalk in the early morning dawn. After reading your trip report and seeing how beautiful the run at the WL is, I decided I needed to get back in shape so I could run it. I can't wait to hit the trail at the WL.

 

[scottny]

In case you wanted to order one. It is only $60. LOL

http://www.ramart.org/content/bubbles-backpack

MMM, Love Tangeriene Café.
Hi Kathy. I hope to meet up with her in December.
I am not religious but I like going in them to see the architecture. That was pretty inside.
Sorry about Max.
RIP Max. You were a good looking cat.
Great pics on SE. LOL about Denny missing. They cut me out on one trip.
I need to do Ellen in December again.
All caught up, again.

 

[KatMark]

I love the pictures of Max.

Great pictures of Spaceship Earth; the same thing happened to Mark...he disappeared too.

I love the pre-show with Ellen at Universe of Energy and you got some good pictures in there...no flash too.

Mark and I used to work in bars and we had a friend who always drank his beer out of a straw; your telling us you did brought back fun memories.

I can't wait to see where you eat.

 

[Moira222]

Mary Ellen
first let me say again how sorry I was to hear about your Max.

I loved your dismeet with Kathy! yay!

Your dinner at BOG did not sound all that thrilling. Do you not enter the restaurant at dinner time through the hall with the suits of armor? I loved hearing them talk and sing and laugh while we were waiting to get in at lunch.

I had never heard of the Church of Mary -- I parted from the Catholic church a long time ago, but would love to visit here. It looks absolutely beautiful.

Nice Vera bags -- I've been to that outlet but only to the Disney store there. maybe it would be worth a walk around!

 

[Millie12591]

Again, I'm so sorry for the loss of your little buddy. I know what it's like to lose a kitty, it's so sad but the right thing to do when they are suffering. We were lucky to have another little guy to bring us joy when we had to put our oldest down.

Love your pics of Epcot!! I always do. I've never been on the Ellen ride, it always seems we are on a time crunch and never get to it.

I bet drinking that beer from a straw had a lot to do with how dizzy you became. I'll have to keep my eye open for it when I'm there next time, hubby would probably like to try it. Although, I think if I introduce him to 'The Ditch', he won't be going anywhere else for a drink.

 

[Queenofallthings]

I am so sorry for the loss of Max

On a hot day your beverage of choice just sounds delicious! I can't wait to try it! It's been added to the list

 

[MEK]

I've said it on Facebook but I can't say it enough, Mary Ellen I am so very sorry for your loss. Max was a beautiful cat and you gave him a wonderful, loving home for 12 years, rescued him from the SPCA, nursed him through his sicknesses. I think it's wonderful that you're going to memorialize him on your magic band. Sending healing vibes for your broken heart. <3

Thanks Wendy! He was a beauty and even though he lived to be 13, it still feel too soon. He was so healthy and vibrant until he got diabetes. Than it was just all down hill. I am happy I could bury him in the backyard and I will always have his memory. He really was a great cat.

You got some great pictures in SSE! It's really dark in there so to get anything at all is a challenge. Great job! Ellen! I love that ride. Especially the dinosaurs. And Stupid Judy.

Thanks! I always tell myself just to SIT and not take pictures, but I can't help myself.

I love Stupid Judy. I have to see her about every 18 months or so. Just to laugh at her smug face.

Wow, some really beautiful photos in Italy. Love the way you framed them, very nice. This one is my favourite:

Thank you! I decided to channel my inner jenseib and frame them just for fun. It is a nice effect, but time consuming!

That Japanese beer looks so much like Butterbeer! I can see me being tricked into drinking that... Hahaha you're right about the foam making it look sweet. Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

I guess I thought it would have more of a lemony or lime flavor. Actually, I am not sure what I thought, but I did enjoy sipping it through a straw and having the whipped foam on top. Hmm - maybe that's why I got so buzzed from it - th straw!

I'm so sorry for your loss. Pets are members of the family and I know how hard it to lose one

Thanks Dawn! They totally are family members, especially Max. He was always with us and he loved to be right in the thick of things. He was always the first at the door to great me. I know he's in a better place, but I will miss him for a long time.

The pictures around World Showcase are just lovely!

Thank you! It was a perfect summer evening and that makes taking pictures all the more fun.

I'm so so sorry Max is gone they become such a part of our lives it's devastating when they're gone

Thanks Pam. You're right. They are such a big part of our lives. Their unconditional love is just such a priceless thing. Fortunately I have had the past 6 months to brace myself for this so it was a little less devastating than it could have been.

Those are two rides I can pretty much leave. Every few years is enough. It annoys me how unlike Ellen the Ellens look inside the ride.

I love SSE. I have to do that every trip, but Ellen is an every other or more like an every third trip. I knew Denny liked it and there really wasn't anything else we wanted to wait for at the time.

Did Denny have a beer?

Why, yes, yes he did. I guess in my excitement to enjoy my frozen kirin I forgot to take a picture of it. It was, obviously, some kind of Japanese beer that was NOT frozen.

Mary Ellen I am sooo sorry about Max !!He had a good life with you and you will always have fond memories of him

Thanks Rosie! He did have a good life and I'm not sure if he would have been adopted since he wasn't a kitten. He turned out to be the most perfect cat for me and I WILL always have great memories of him. I'm sad to see him go but his failing health could not be changed.

Yourupdates were fabulous !!I love SE too !!

Thanks! I am a big fan of SSE. I have loved that ride from day 1. Can't miss it.

Sorry, again, for your loss. Always hard to lose a family member.

Thanks Christine. He really was a family member and he was the most dominant of all the cats. He always let his presence be known and he would always (well mostly) come when ever I called him. He was awesome. I will miss him, but he cat lives were used up.

Great update and photos, as always! I am looking forward to visiting Spaceship Earth since I had to skip it in July... they were using the side queue!! Always a great trip and those hidden hieroglyphics are cool. Amazing the level of detail those imagineers include.

The side queue? You mean when it wraps around both sides over and over? It's always like that in June, too. But it wasn't on that evening, so we were on in no time.

SSE really does have so many details and some of them are things I am only now discovering. I see something new every trip or in someone else's TR.

I haven't visited Ellen in a long while either. Suppose it probably a long shot to have that get updated as I think she mostly works with Universal now.

I guess eventually they will just make it something else all together. It's a good ride for a nap or to get out of the heat. Far from a must do, but I know Denny likes it and we hadn't ridden it in awhile, so what the heck?

A drink I have not heard of in Epcot?!?! Actually I'm not too familiar with any of the beers. That one looks pretty good though... may have to check it out!

That is pretty shocking that there IS a drink you have never heard about. Don't feel bad. It's only been there since 2012. You're not too far behind. There is a great app called Beers and Ears. It will get you up to speed quick. Also - try the grapefruit beer they have at F&W in the Beer Garden. It is excellent!

 

[amazingact21]

Oh no! I am so sorry to hear about Max. That's very sad, and I send you my condolences. Losing a pet is such a difficult thing, but it was nice to read about how he came to be a part of your family.


That sounds like an interesting app. I know so little about the drinks at Disney, but if I ever visit the parks with beer drinkers, I'll have to download it.


It's hard to resist taking a ride on Spaceship Earth! One of those attractions that never gets old.

I didn't know you had a Facebook, I'll have to send you a request!

 

[rentayenta]

I'm so sorry about your sweet Max. (((hugs)))

 

[MEK]

So sorry about Max. My cat is now getting two shots a day for diabetes. He looks much better than he did a few weeks ago, but he is older now, and inevitable will come. It weighs heavy on me constantly, and that will be one small 'good' thing that will come when he is gone - I won't be worrying about if he is okay and if he is going to still be hanging in there when I get home from school every day.

Thanks Caren. I know exactly exactly how you feel. that's the way I felt everyday with Max. It got worse when Nick left for school because I know no one would see him from 7:30 (when Denny leaves) until 4:30 or 5pm. I always expected to walk him and find him dead. When I didn't hear him crying at the door on thursday evening I immediately knew something was wrong.

Nice Epcot pictures. I'd love to be walking around there today.

Me too! but I will be in a month (actually a bit less), so I will try to be patient.

Disney World is the perfect place to honeymoon. They are starting their marriage off right!

You can say that again. They both looked so sweet in their matching hats. And they didn't even know I was going all paparazzi on them.

I'm in tears after reading about your poor Max. I knew what happened from FB but just reading about his life really got to me, I'm so sorry for your loss. It reminds me of when I had to put my Nina to sleep last year, it was just so sudden, she got sick and 2 days later, we had her put to sleep. She was my cat, I still miss her sleeping next to me in my bed, cuddled up under the covers.

Awww Jen. I'm sorry I made you cry. I was crying while writing it. I remember you telling us about Nina. Max was the same way. Always curled up in a deep sleep right next to me. Not Denny. Me! Max got sick suddenly, but he has been to the vet several times after his Diabetes diagnosis and I got to the point where I was just waiting for the "other shoe to drop", so to speak. As horrible as it was, I was pretty well prepared that this was inevitable.

Anyway, great update! Who doesn't love a nice relaxing trip on SSE? Someday I'll get around to doing Universe of Energy, I hope! It's always on my list of things to do at Epcot but for some reason, it never happens!

That's right, Who DOESN'T love SSE? (well maybe Pam - she just admitted it). My boys were always big fans of that ride. There is something nostalgic about it for me because it does remind me of my kids when they were younger.

So, you've never seen Ellen? OMG - just once. Just for the heck of it.

I don't know about frozen beer...I mean, I love really cold beer, but frozen? It just seems strange!

Only the foam is frozen and even then its more of a whipped consistency then actually frozen. The beer is regular consistency. Do not be afraid. However, drinking it with a straw will definitely make you buzzed!

Mary Ellen I'm so very sorry about Max. I know he'd had a rough time this year but what a hard thing to do. I had a "moment" when you shared how he still purred when you pet him in the basement.

Thanks Brenda. It was hard but I am glad I prepared myself. I just knew his diabetes diagnosis was the beginning of the end. And then when he had that ruptured bite I thought he was dying.

Max was quite the purer. Even at awkward moments he would purr. He learned to sit on my lap while I stuck him for his glucose test and he would purr. Such a great cat.

You've posted the best photo of Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel - so awesome! My photos in SE don't come out so well so I enjoy seeing yours. I don't think I've paid attention to the cave drawings - I'm glad you used the flash! Now, what is it supposed to be? Is there a hidden Mickey? Inquiring minds and all. And the future "instant fx fixer" caught my attention. Could have definitely used that recently!!

Thanks! I can never refrain from taking pictures in SSE. I am always in quest of that perfect shot.

You can't see the cave drawings AT ALL without the flash. I read about them in a book. It's really just symbols. I was zoomed in too much to capture the entire thing. You literally only have time for one picture and then its over. I took the same picture a few years ago and got the entire wall. I guess I need to try to find that shot because it really is much better.

I actually may be in the minority but I like Ellen's Universe of Energy show. Especially in the summer! 43 minutes of a/c.

What's not to love about 43 minutes of AC. I actually like the premise of the ride, but its not a ride I need to visit every time. Let's see - I'll be due to return in 18 months.

AWESOME photos in Italy my friend! Seriously, I love your artsy photos.

Thanks!

Enjoy your weekend!

Thanks! The weather here is fabulous. It's a great weekend.

I actually teared up reading about your Max. What a special kitty! Now he's hunting mice in heaven.

Awww Jill. I'm sorry. We really did bond. He was a great pet and I am CERTAIN he is hunting mice (and other yucky things) in cat heaven!

Love your photos! You are so talented!

Jill in CO

Thanks Jill. You are really too kind! I am so glad you like the pictures!

 

[englishrose47]

Hi Mary Ellen just checking in !!!

 

[nowellsl]

So sorry to hear about your fur baby, I have one going on 15 and she's really beginning to show her age!

Love the pictures of Spaceship Earth, I don't even try to get them in there anymore, they never turn out. I really think yours are some of the best I've seen!

 

[MEK]

Yeah Mine only lived 16 1/2 years outside.... Really he rarely came in he until he end. He actually had to spend some time inside when he broke his leg and he was so crazy we had to put him in the garage so he could calm down.

So sorry again MEK.

Thanks Pat!

I know many cats do fine outside. I guess the vet is right from the perspective that they are exposed to more badness out there. But if a cat really has "outside" in his blood, there's no changing that.

Your poor baby - flipping out because he couldn't get out. That's too funny, although I'm sure it wasn't at the time.

When the time came for us it was sudden too. Realizing late on Memorial Day weekend just to take him to the emergency vet just to put him down.

Why is it ALWAYS on a weekend, holiday, or late in the evening? I really didn't want to have to take Max to the emergency vet for that, so I was fortunate that my vet was still open.

I know what you mean about the other shoe, you will still be in his routine for a while then realizing you don't need to be. I though I caught glimpses of him for a few weeks or would look for him or wait for him to come slowly walking since running was out of the question.

Yeah, I keep seeing him places and that is eery. I'm sure that will stop. The odd thing is my other cats are sitting with us more now that he is gone. Before they used to disappear. I wonder if they are trying to give us more company or if they just hated being around him because he was such a presence and totally overshadowed him.

They are both in a better place.
Yes I got teary too.

Yes, they are. And I have gotten teary quite a bit these past few days. I saw Nick today and he was asking me different questions and I just lost it. thought I was a little better, but maybe not.

On the left right before the Sistene scene and after the sleeping monk...

Ah yes - the sleeping monk. Thanks for identifying that.

Yup I had that happen too courtesy of DS. He picked that storyline.

I am trying to pick different story lines because I have a habit of always picking the same. Wonder what I'll come up with in October.

Well that was laugh out loud funny. Got me past the funk I was in after hearing about Max.

I knew you would appreciate that! Seems like it was just yesterday that we were there!

hmmmm Good to know - Heard about it but never have remembered when I was in the Japan Area.

It was an interesting concept. I liked the frozen foam. It was a "fun" drink, that's for sure.

One of your trip reports inspired me to go back to running again just so I would be able to run this winter when are are at the WL. I ran for about 13 years then slacked off for the last two.

Yay! I am glad I was the inspiration for you starting running again. I'm sure if you ran all that time it must be fairly easy for you to get back into it. There are times I want to quit, but I know once I do I probably won't start up again.

We have stayed at the BC for something like twenty years and one of my favorite things to do was to sneak out while everyone was still sleeping and run around the Boardwalk in the early morning dawn. After reading your trip report and seeing how beautiful the run at the WL is, I decided I needed to get back in shape so I could run it. I can't wait to hit the trail at the WL.

Those are two of my favorite places to run - the Boardwalk down to HS and that trails at WL. Both are lovely and very different. I look forward to running there in October. The only resort I don't like for running (and we are staying there for 4 nights in late October) is AKL. There is just NO where to go. I'll do my best, but I might end up running on the treadmill, which I HATE while on vacation!

In case you wanted to order one. It is only $60. LOL

http://www.ramart.org/content/bubbles-backpack

Scott, what the HECK? How did you FIND that? Although I think $60 is reasonable for a back pack, they should be giving that on away. It is seriously ugly and now I can't decide which is worse - Orange or Green!

IMMM, Love Tangeriene Café.

Isn't it THE BEST! Such a great "go to" place because the food is always good!

Hi Kathy. I hope to meet up with her in December.

I hope you get to. She's a lovely person. It was really fun meeting her.

I am not religious but I like going in them to see the architecture. That was pretty inside.

That's the beauty of a church. I don't think you have to be particularly religious to appreciate the great details of the architecture. I love when buildings are a work of art.

Sorry about Max.
RIP Max. You were a good looking cat.

Aww - Thank you Scott! When he was well he really was a beautiful coat. His long black coat was so pretty.

Great pics on SE. LOL about Denny missing. They cut me out on one trip.

Really? You got cut too? I wonder why that happens. It was just a shock. Denny was like, "what the...?"

I need to do Ellen in December again.

I am on an every 18 month visit schedule with Ellen.

All caught up, again.

 

[Wicket's Mom]

My son is really going to be hurting when his cat passes. Gizmo has been on two insulin shots a day for about five years. That cat is going on 18 & being Siamese is a one person cat.

I loved the Ellen ride before Ellen was inserted into it. It used to be a serious & realistic depiction of dinosaurs. I can remember the steamy air & the smell of brimstone.

Great pictures as usual.

 

[MEK]

I love the pictures of Max.

Thanks Kathy! He was such a pretty cat before he got sick.

Great pictures of Spaceship Earth; the same thing happened to Mark...he disappeared too.

What gives? Do you think when the cottage cheese effect gets overwhelming you just get replace with a dummy? They need to fix that!

I love the pre-show with Ellen at Universe of Energy and you got some good pictures in there...no flash too.

Glad you like the pictures. I enjoy sharing Ellen's dream about every 18 months or so.

Mark and I used to work in bars and we had a friend who always drank his beer out of a straw; your telling us you did brought back fun memories.

So, tell me this - Does the beer go to your head faster when you drink through a straw? That's the only explanation I can come up with for why I got so buzzed off one beer.

I can't wait to see where you eat.

It's one of your favorites!

Mary Ellen
first let me say again how sorry I was to hear about your Max.

Thanks ME. I knew it was coming, but it was still hard to see him go. I miss him!

I loved your dismeet with Kathy! yay!

I had so much fun getting to meet Kathy and seeing Mary and the girls again. It was a great meet!

Your dinner at BOG did not sound all that thrilling. Do you not enter the restaurant at dinner time through the hall with the suits of armor? I loved hearing them talk and sing and laugh while we were waiting to get in at lunch.

I guess it made it sound worse than it was. I really did enjoy our evening there. I think its hard to live up to all the hype. We did not enter through the hall with the armor. It was a different entrance. Interesting. I guess I'll have to go back for lunch.

I had never heard of the Church of Mary -- I parted from the Catholic church a long time ago, but would love to visit here. It looks absolutely beautiful.

It was a beautiful church and I don't think you have to be especially religious to admire the beauty and architecture of a church. They are fabulous public buildings with so much character.

Nice Vera bags -- I've been to that outlet but only to the Disney store there. maybe it would be worth a walk around!

The outlet was great. I highly recommend it. The prices were really good!

Again, I'm so sorry for the loss of your little buddy. I know what it's like to lose a kitty, it's so sad but the right thing to do when they are suffering. We were lucky to have another little guy to bring us joy when we had to put our oldest down.

It is so sad because animals are so innocent and they just tug at your heart strings. They are loyal and forgiving right up until the end. I think its always better to have another animal when you put one down. I have two other cats. They aren't Max, but I am going to make every effort to pay more attention to them because I have basically ignored them for months.

Love your pics of Epcot!! I always do. I've never been on the Ellen ride, it always seems we are on a time crunch and never get to it.

Ellen is a great filler when you do have extra time. But I do hate how they remind you OVER and OVER again that its 43 minutes long. Enough already!

I bet drinking that beer from a straw had a lot to do with how dizzy you became. I'll have to keep my eye open for it when I'm there next time, hubby would probably like to try it. Although, I think if I introduce him to 'The Ditch', he won't be going anywhere else for a drink.

Yup - the Ditch has a way of doing that to people.

You know - I just wrote above that I think the straw is why I got so buzzed from the beer. You just confirmed my theory. I'll have to watch that next time. It was a fun experience.

I am so sorry for the loss of Max

Thanks Jacquie. I will always miss my little buddy, but I know I did the right thing and I couldn't bear to see him suffer. And he really didn't. He got sick suddenly in the morning so at least I know he didn't suffer long.

On a hot day your beverage of choice just sounds delicious! I can't wait to try it! It's been added to the list

It was a cool beverage. I love how whipped the top was. A very unusual to way to enjoy beer!

Oh no! I am so sorry to hear about Max. That's very sad, and I send you my condolences. Losing a pet is such a difficult thing, but it was nice to read about how he came to be a part of your family.

Thanks Alicia.

It is always hard to lose a pet because they are such a part of the family and they demonstrate such unconditional love to their owners. He really was a big part of our family and I will always have good memories of him.

That sounds like an interesting app. I know so little about the drinks at Disney, but if I ever visit the parks with beer drinkers, I'll have to download it.

Definitely download it for the beer drinkers. I am shocked at how many different types there are. It's actually pretty cool. I like that app. Not because I intend to drink a bunch of beer, but it is entertaining.

It's hard to resist taking a ride on Spaceship Earth! One of those attractions that never gets old.

I agree. It never gets old to me and it reminds me of my kids because they enjoyed it so much when they were little. Little boys are thrill ride junkies so when they appreciate a classic its really a cool thing.

I didn't know you had a Facebook, I'll have to send you a request!

Absolutely do. I'll look for it!

I'm so sorry about your sweet Max. (((hugs)))

Thanks Jenny! He really was a sweet old guy. I will miss him a lot, but I was as ready as you can be for this.

Hi Mary Ellen just checking in !!!

Hey Rosie! Hope you had a great weekend. Loved your last update!

So sorry to hear about your fur baby, I have one going on 15 and she's really beginning to show her age!

Thank you so much! I was really hoping that Max would live to be 16. So far I have only had one cat do that. It's sad when they start to show their age but if they don't develop any health problems they can still live awhile. I hope you furbaby kicks butt in the cat year department!

Love the pictures of Spaceship Earth, I don't even try to get them in there anymore, they never turn out. I really think yours are some of the best I've seen!

Thank you. I use the shutter speed money and just fool around until I get the right shutter speed where I get enough light and little to no blur. I always tell myself to put the camera away, but I never do.

 

[MEK]

My son is really going to be hurting when his cat passes. Gizmo has been on two insulin shots a day for about five years. That cat is going on 18 & being Siamese is a one person cat.

I think you told me about Gizmo when Max was first diagnosed. That's really amazing. I just don't think Max ever had the best health. He always seemed to get one thing after another so the diabetes was just the icing on the cake. When they said his kidney was enlarged I knew he either had cancer, infection, or obstruction. He just finished a course of antibiotics not too long ago. It seemed like it was always something. I hope Gizmo beats the odds and stays healthy for a while longer.

I loved the Ellen ride before Ellen was inserted into it. It used to be a serious & realistic depiction of dinosaurs. I can remember the steamy air & the smell of brimstone.

I remember you said it used to be a lot different. I would love to see that version. Maybe when they revamp it (if they ever do) it will be more like the original. One can dream, right?

Great pictures as usual.

Thanks!

 

[jash08]

I am so sorry for your loss Mary Ellen. I am so glad that you have wonderful memories of Max and were able to share a good portion of your life with him.


Your pictures are great of course!

 

[Pinkocto]

My son is really going to be hurting when his cat passes. Gizmo has been on two insulin shots a day for about five years. That cat is going on 18 & being Siamese is a one person cat.

I loved the Ellen ride before Ellen was inserted into it. It used to be a serious & realistic depiction of dinosaurs. I can remember the steamy air & the smell of brimstone.

Great pictures as usual.

I remember that! Wasn't there a baby tyrannosaur somewhere in there or am I imagining things?

I hope your sons cat lives a while longer. My grandma had at least two Siamese that lived into their 20s.

 

[Wicket's Mom]

I have to laugh about drinking beer from a straw getting one drunk faster. One of the big urban legends when I was a teenager. A lot of us tried using straws for that purpose, but it doesn't really work. Another one was to put aspirins in a bottle of Pepsi, kids all had to try this one. Didn't make anyone drunk, all it did was to waste Pepsi & Aspirin!

 

[rndmr2]

Getting caught up, I'm so sorry to hear about Max. He looks like a sweet little guy in the pics you posted.

Glad you had your bucket list drink, that is definitely a unique one! I am not a beer drinker but it looks interesting.