Inching My Way Closer to the Castle Final thoughts/future trips 4/2p90 The End 4/4p92

[MEK]

True Confession.....

I started all my replies and then screwed them up! I accidently deleted them and I am way too tired to go back and do them over.

to Jen for getting two updates done. I swear I haven't abandoned this TR.

I literally spent hours and hours uploading video and trying to make Brian a 10 minute soccer video. I would start to download video, crop and paste it, and look up to see that 4 hours had passed.

Brian posted his soccer resume on berecruited.com. Of course he is getting hits from coaches and they are requesting video. Up until about a month ago he really had no interest in playing for college, but I think the end of the soccer season made him realize he's not done yet.

I think he's behind the eight ball as far as getting recruited and he doesn't have the necessary accolades for D2 or D1 soccer. No way. But if he could get a spot on a D3 squad I think he would be happy. He was contacted by a local coach of a school 30 mins away, but he didn't want to meet him cause he doesn't want to go to school that close. I am very disappointed in his short sightedness. Oh well, the video is made despite the fact that I had lousy footage to work with. I didn't take video once he indicated he wasn't interested in college soccer.

Well - kitchen demo starts tomorrow. I seriously hope to post this week.

 

[vamassey1]

The more I hear about the seagway tour the more I like it.

So sorry about the rude lady, I think she was just jealous she didn't have a neat toy to zoom around in.

Your pictures of Canada are beautiful. There is so much to see there. The mushroom filet is to die for. I've only been lucky enough to get an adr once but really loved it.

 

[MEK]

Good luck in the game that is likely going on right now!!

Thanks! It was a well played game and I'm sorry to see them lose, but it was in OT 3 to 2. They really had to work for that last goal.

I think all colleges no matter where you live are just crazy money....the state schools in NY are very good schools and even they are very high...so much more than when I went 100 years ago One of my nephews is graduating this year too and they have been making the tours.....so many things to consider

It is crazy money, but the tuition for some of the state schools of other areas is definitely less than U of D. I guess its because they really are the only game in town.

Oh and of course I LOVED the picture of the Sherpa storing her wares!!

Tracy

I really did fit the definition of sherpa that day. I had to put some of my things in a special locker. Yup. I was the only one who had to do that, but I guess when you bring a big camera in a big case and two pairs of shoes you are bound to run out of room.

 

[MEK]

for making the finals!!! I told you...anyone can win on any given day.

Thanks Kathy. You are so right because that game could have gone the opposite direction. Main thing is, the boys stood united.

:

Brian is now considering playing soccer, hence my absence from the boards. Making a video from hurs and hours of poor footage is definitely a lot of work.

:I'll be thinking of you while the game is going on.

thanks Kathy - you know I really appreciate that!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

All caught up. First, good luck w/ the real life challenges of college apps and kitchen remodel. Yikes! I can't wait to see those kitchen pics!

All in all sounds like you gals had a super fun day in WS. You still won't get me on the segway but you've certainly made it sound cool. I like the Kim Possible missions too. Great idea someone had! Le Cellier sure is delish, isn't it?!

 

[MEK]

I had an idea - I thought maybe if I got up extra early today I would be able to do an update BEFORE work. How's that for something new and different.

Seems its been two weeks since I updated and Jen tells me we are losing are fan base. Oops.

And for those of you whose TR's I have been seriously neglecting, I promise I will start the process of catching up. It may take awhile, but I'll get there.

So just to bring you up to speed, Jen and I last wrote about Day 4 and our Segway tour. Many of you said you would like to try it someday. Surprisingly, many of you are sure you would be that one person who took out a castmember, a table of wares in china, or, worse yet, end up in the lagoon. Not gonna happen. Trust me. You could all master the segway with much success.

After our segway fun and our run in with the rude lady, Jen and I neaded over to Sunshine seasons for a little breakfast. I did not take pictures, but I will tell you I DID NOT have the strawberry shortcake that many of you rave about. It looked delicious, but I couldn't quite bring myself to eat it for breakfast. So I ate an equally unhealthy cinnamon muffin.

Yes....It is STILL day 4.

While we were at Sunshine Seasons Jen had to make a work call. I remember sitting there looking over to my right at a woman who was visibly upset. She was sitting with the rest of her family, who all got up to obviously do a ride, and she just sat there crying. She indicated to them, "Go. I will be fine". Then she just sat there, staring off into space with tears running down her cheeks. Not sobbing. But she was definitely crying. I felt soooooooo bad for here, but really felt powerless to do anything. I still wonder what was wrong and I really hope that her Disney day got a lot better. No better should have to spend a minute crying while at Disney, but we all know it happens.

I am sort of lost as far as what we did next. I know that Jen and I rode Soaring twice this trip, so I think we probably got Soarin FP's, ate, and then went back to ride it.

Of course, its entirely possible that we rode this next.........

If we did, and I'm almost positive we did, I did not take a single picture. I just sat back and enjoyed. I knew I had taken a bunch of pics in May. I love this ride. Its so relaxing and SOMEDAY I really will take the behind the seeds tour!

I took a few "fun" pictures before we left the land......

Then I took a few after we left the land.....

When we got to the fountain outside Club Cool I did some photography practice. Jen told me to experiment with shutter speed to see the effects on the appearance of water. Here's what I got......

Same water, different shutter speeds.

OK, enough of that.

Next we went into Club Cool. I really wasn't into trying the sodas since I was still on a sugar rush high from my cinnamon muffin. So I took pictures, and as Jen said, this was the FIRST time I have ever been admonished by CM's for taking pictures. The CM literally asked me WHAT I was going to do with my pictures. I said, "look at them!" DOH!

Someone obviously liked the Beverly SO MUCH that they took a swing at it......

And then, after being attacked for using my camera, I came upon this little beauty. This cute little stencil was just sitting there at the check-out counter. I couldn't believe kids were not fighting over it.

It had obviously not been used because when I started to outline it with crayons, I got it all over the stencil. So I switched to pencil and then colored it. And in a few short minutes Flat Mickey was born......

So that was my short update for today, but, hey, its a start and I promise to do better!!!!!

Stay tuned for my next update when Flat Mickey mets the Cave!

 

[dawnbu40]

Sounds like real life has been keeping you very busy! I hope Brian finds the school that is just the right fit for him!

Flat Mickey is too cute! I hope he behaved himself in the cave

 

[2xcited2sleep]

I love flat Mickey!! He's adorable!!

Weird on being admonished for taking pictures in Disney. I will say that in the "real world" when I worked in retail we didn't like people taking pictures of the merchandise. Concerns ranged from someone "casing the joint" to check out security, to copying the merchandise or merchandising ideas. But none of that should apply at Disney!

I've still never been in Club Cool... maybe in May.

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Oh my! I wonder what the CM was think when he yelled at you for taking pictures!! I also wonder what the the response would have been if you asked what he thought you were going to do with them! That's just odd! Cranky CM! Boo!

I LOVE Flat Mickey! LOVE him!!!!

 

[glennbo123]

MEK, what were the shutter speeds for those water pictures?

 

[disneydusted]

Wonderful pictures again! I liked your zoomed in pictures inside, I've never thought of zooming in on the balloons! Good idea!
The water is interesting, I wonder if you liked one better?
Hummmm, not too sure what was going on with the CM telling you not to take pictures....EVERYBODY takes pictures EVERYWHERE at Disney! That's just a given. Maybe he was new and didn't get it???

 

[mickeystoontown]

What great updates and pictures you two. Don't worry about losing your fan base....we are still here and will wait until you have time to post more.

 

[MEK]

Just got caught up on your TR! The segway tour looks like SO much fun! I was watching the CM's who work there riding those things around and I was telling my DH how much I wanted to do that tour! Maybe next time! I would be afraid of falling off or crashing though!

The segway tour was so great! And, NO, you would not fall off. Wouldn't happen!

How was your trip? did you start your TR yet. I promise, promise, promise to get to it. I really want to get all caught up!

Good luck with the college application process with your son, I know colleges are ridiculously expensive! I went to a state school here in CT and it wasn't too bad when I was there a few years ago, but the prices have increased a lot since I graduated, and I really want to go back and get my masters degree but I don't know how I'll be able to afford it!

thanks. He is slowly plugging away at things. He has two applications submitted and should get another one done third. The prices are absurd. What really blows me away are the colleges that cost $40K a year. Hello? They must give a ton of scholarships.

 

[MEK]

You never know about scholarships. Lot's of kids with grades worse than mine got more money than I did. Get him to make friends with the ladies in the guidance office who keep all of the scholarship applications, they can be a big help.

Thank you. That is some good advice. I know there's money out there. I think it will be easier for my younger son who is a much better student. Brian is seriously very average or below average for his school.

 

[MEK]

If it moved, I was left behind too!!

I'm around - I guess everyone else went shopping and/or napping!

I think I liked the ride in Mexico better before they stuck all that Donald stuff in there. It's cute enough, but I didn't need it. I liked seeing the volcano and all that floating by the restaurant. Maybe I should stop in La Cava first next time!

Oh, I always wish I had a snappy comeback for stupid rude people. But usually they are so stupid and rude, it would be wasted on them. Did she honestly think all of you were just lazy? Maybe it's true - ignorance is bliss. Although she didn't sound very blissful!!


Hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving!!

So sorry I got so far behind. I really got a good laugh from your La Cava comment! I am definitely going to try the next time BEFORE I ride the Gran Fiesta tour! Splendid plan!

And I am one who has never been good at snappy comebacks. I always thing about them 5 minutes later. By then it is way, way, way too late. DOH!

 

[MEK]

I was having a hard time coming up with a way to tell these two we need some updates without being rude.

You can be rude with us. We're tough. We can take it! It's actually me who is holding up the TR. I will try to do better.

I
I miss the song and the marketplace salesman chasing after you. The Donald addition didn't really do anything to improve the ride, IMO.

I like the idea of hitting the Cave FIRST. That should definitely improve the ride!

I haven't been checking in here lately so your absence was okay by me
I meant to tell you that when I was walking over the bridge to France...you know how there is a PP usually there...well there was a CM on a Segway that was helping the PP CM and he was balancing on his Segway while messing around with the camera on the tripod...he must be a very accomplished rider or just has really good balance

That is something definitely above my skill level! If I tried that maneuver my camera would probably end up in many pieces on the ground!

WHAT a rude lady.....duh it is a tour!!! A SEGWAY tour!! I think I would have liked to run her over too....although I would rather use ME's Segway because it would have been weighed down more with her Sherpa essentials

Good one! No one can stand up to the wrath of a sherpa laden segway. That ten extra pounds could be lethal!

I think I remember seeing those ginormous Gummy Bears in Germany too They are the original land of Gummy bears

Tracy

Those gummies looked so cool. Believe me, I was tempted, but then I thought about how sick I would feel trying to eat the entire gummy in one sitting. Heave forbid I cut it up into smaller pieces!

 

[manntra]

Flat Mickey is so cute!!! Is he old enough to drink? I guess we will find out when you take him down to The Ditch
Your water pictures look really cool...the second one kinda looks like hair My friend tried Beverly in October...and liked it

Tracy

 

[vamassey1]

So sorry getting ready for college has been so rought. Having 2 kids, one boy and one girl go to college and can feel for you. My oldest is a boy and it was much harder getting him ready for college. We finally had to lay down the law. You either go to college or get a job and pay rent, we're not having a bum. He finally decided to got to college the summer before and made it into the last freshman visit weekend in July. Luckily he had taken his ACT twice and had submitted his scores to a few school. Even thought it took him 7 years he did graduate in May. Boys are so much harder than girls. I never had to say anything to my daughter. She is in her JR year right now.

Once again wonderful pictures! You're flat Mickey is cute, can't wait to see what adventures he gets into.

 

[Wicket's Mom]

I feel for you, the college process can be rough. We did it with 4 sons, they all went to college. We didn't get any scholarships, even though one son graduated cum laude. Scholarships are harder to come by than in past years. My DIL got all sorts of aid since she was getting an engineering degree & female. She is also very smart.

I wasn't going to desert you, enjoying the TR too much!

 

[Nermel9]

Awww, Flat Mickey is so cute!

I can't believe a CM said something to you about taking pics in a store...I admit though, if I takes pics in the stores, I do it secretly because I wonder if the CM will yell at me...I guess it bothers some of them!