Jingle Bells, Panic smells; a Joanna & Panic Christmas PTR -Finally an Update! 11/29

[not_Joanna_eggs]

You knew we couldn’t stay away long – ’92 had us back in D.C. (If you haven’t noticed already, we easily get in ruts)

At this point, we had voted Panic off the island and exchanged her for an incognito little red riding hood….

We went into D.C. and happened to come upon the Kite Festival – we wanted to get in on the action even though we didn’t actually have kites.

This time we drove, and stayed in Williamsburg as well.

By this point, my parents were no longer international spies, but my mom had joined a hair band…

We went to the old Jamestown settlement

Finally, little red was getting on our nerves, so, we let Panic come back…

I’m not sure why this scanned in black and white, but it works..

It was a great experiment in road trips, and paved the way for the next one.

 

[norybell]

We totally send my sister (who lived in upstate NY and now NJ) care packages with cheese curds. Not the fried ones obviously as they wouldn't travel well, but the fresh ones. We did this when she was in college too, and she said she quickly became very popular... mmmm cheese!

Too funny: I was just invited to a "Cheese Curd Crawl" at the end of September. It's like a pub crawl, but with cheese curds. Instantly made me think of you

cheese curds...drool...

Ah, Wisconsin Dells. Actually, I was never a big water parks person (I know, coming from Wisconsin, this makes me feel like some kind of traitor!). But I always had a good time at Wisconsin Dells, anyway.

Actually, that reminds me -- once in high school I told my parents I was going with a friend to WI Dells for the weekend, and instead spent the whole weekend at my boyfriend's house across town (his parents were away)! (I swear I was a good kid, generally...). Obviously this was before the days of caller ID and cell phones!

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

cheese curds...drool...

Ah, Wisconsin Dells. Actually, I was never a big water parks person (I know, coming from Wisconsin, this makes me feel like some kind of traitor!). But I always had a good time at Wisconsin Dells, anyway.

Actually, that reminds me -- once in high school I told my parents I was going with a friend to WI Dells for the weekend, and instead spent the whole weekend at my boyfriend's house across town (his parents were away)! (I swear I was a good kid, generally...). Obviously this was before the days of caller ID and cell phones!

Haha... I may or may not have done that in highschool as well... but since my parents occasionally read this... shame on you you bad influence

Actually, I ended up marrying the boy in question, so does it really count??

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

I'm not doing a very good job at keeping this PTR about the December trip.

But the September trip is all bright and shiny and like "come on baby" and I'm weak.. what can I say?

Anyway, the September plans have been finalized (it's about time!) and I changed a bunch of ADRs. Instead of La Nouba and Disney Quest, we opted to spend that money on good food instead.

We now have ARDs at:

Tusker House (lunch Saturday)
Narcoossee's (late dinner Saturday)
Yachtsman (dinner Sunday)
Fulton's (lunch Monday)

These plans are making me anxious for this trip! Yummy!

I can't believe it's 2 weeks away! And next weekend I'm heading to Door County (another WI destination) with my mom and my aunt, for a fun girls weekend at the markets there, so that weekend will just fly by. Yippee.

I pulled the suitcase out today, to start packing things (we'll share 1 carry-on sized suitcase, and I'll bring a big purse.) The fears I had of being over exposed with too many trips are melting away, and the excitement it taking over.

I feel like I'm neglecting the October trip, but those plans are go to epcot and eat. Go back to epcot, eat more until it's time to go home. Not much planning involved

in December news, we booked Panic's flight finally, so she's official

 

[meeko_33785]

Williamsburg is on my list of places to go back to someday. I spent a day there on the way to DC once and only got to do the Busch Gardens there. I'd love to go back and see all the historical sights (and Busch Gardens ).

Looking forward to hearing about your dining in September. I haven't been to any of the restaurants you have ADRs for, so I'll be interested in hearing what you think of them.

 

[norybell]

Haha... I may or may not have done that in highschool as well... but since my parents occasionally read this... shame on you you bad influence

Actually, I ended up marrying the boy in question, so does it really count??

What can I say, I've always been a bad influence! At least you ended up marrying yours...I probably would've been better off at WI Dells!

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

Williamsburg is on my list of places to go back to someday. I spent a day there on the way to DC once and only got to do the Busch Gardens there. I'd love to go back and see all the historical sights (and Busch Gardens ).

Looking forward to hearing about your dining in September. I haven't been to any of the restaurants you have ADRs for, so I'll be interested in hearing what you think of them.

I so want to go back to Williamsburg. We went one other time (ohh flashback spoilers - sorry ) but there's so much to do, plus like you said Busch Gardens the Alpengeist roller coaster is - or was like 15 years ago so probably not anymore, but still - so so awesome!

I'm so excited for our September dining! They're all new restaurants for us too - except Fultons, but I haven't been there since the 90s - and DH hasn't been there at all. mmmmmmmm.

What can I say, I've always been a bad influence! At least you ended up marrying yours...I probably would've been better off at WI Dells!

Okay... I totally spit out my soda all over my computer.

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

To prove that we weren’t in a rut, in ’93, we packed up the car and headed west – to South Dakota!

Pretty sure this guy would leave a big dent in the car as roadkill

Panic’s personality had really developed by this point – can you tell.

She was always on the ready to spot any wildlife

Notice the glee on Panic's face, and the utter look of disgust on mine. Nature is not my thing

Something you must know about Panic for this and upcoming trips. From ages 3 - 16 she was OBSESSED with dinosaurs. She had books and videos and would spout out knowledge on dinosaurs if you dared to ask her a question. You know like "Hi Panic, how are you today?" She's respond "Did you know the Deinonychus was about 11 feet in length with a skull about the size of a football" Cute the first 100 times - after that....

Panic was a HUGE dinosaur fan. So we made a stop at the Mammoth Site. We were taking the tour, and little 6 year old panic started correcting the tour guide. (My parents didn’t raise dummies – but apparently we were both obnoxious at 6)

I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen her look that tender and lovingly at anything else…

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

I'm currently on hold trying to make or CLP reservations. I'm in minute 28, with an estimated 30 to go. Why can't we just do it on line? Or why must they have annoying weird park music as the hold music. You know soarin or the epcot future-world music okay fine, but I have not had enough coffee to deal the yo ho yo ho and splash mountain music on a continuous loop.

Plus I'm holed up in my office just praying no one needs me soon so I can make these stupid reservations. I know someone will come in right as they pick up with some emergency and I'll have to hang up. Really Disney? Really? This is the best use of my morning and my sanity? Really?

Grr!

The CLP better be a-freaking-mazing...

ETA: After over an hour on hold, I finally got through... Only to find out that I left my credit card at home and they couldn't make the reservation for me.

I'm not a happy girl at all

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

Okay, so I've calmed down a little since yesterday's fiasco.

The earliest they're offering the CLP package for lunch is 1:45. Any other day I wouldn't bat an eyelash, but we've got 9 pm reservations at V&A, so I'm thinking it's not the best idea to eat lunch at 2. Especially with a package that they will be shoving food down our throats. But then again, that is 7 hours between meals.

I just don't know.

I suppose we could go to the original plan and do Christmas day lunch - late. I'm so perplexed.

It really shouldn't be this hard... I'm just saying...

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

Okay, so after a total re-vamp of our Christmas Day/ Christmas Eve plans, we have dinner reservations at 9 dragons.

Not really what I wanted to do, but the lunch was too late on Christmas Eve and I waited too long to get lunch or Chefs de France on Christmas, and my mom won't go to Coral Reef, so 9 Dragons it is. Which is what we originally planned for Christmas Eve anyway, so whatever.

So now, we'll be going to EPCOT on Christmas day.... I'm officially nuts...

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

Hey anyoneone still reading this... I started my September TR if you're interested in popping by!

 

[Carye]

Even though I haven't commented, I have been checking religiously and still following. BTW love the childhood trip flashbacks!

 

[norybell]

How in the world did I miss a week's worth of this??? Sorry. I'm confused.

That sucks about the CLP mess -- what a pain. But I'm sure 9 Dragons will be fun!

Popping over to check out your TR now!

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

Even though I haven't commented, I have been checking religiously and still following. BTW love the childhood trip flashbacks!

Thanks for coming out of lurkdome to say you're reading.... I suppose that means I should stop neglecting this PTR huh?

Thanks for sticking with me!

How in the world did I miss a week's worth of this??? Sorry. I'm confused.

That sucks about the CLP mess -- what a pain. But I'm sure 9 Dragons will be fun!

Popping over to check out your TR now!

It's okay, I've been neglecting this poor PTR... so I forgive you for doing the same

Yeah, We're still not 100% sure we'll stick with the current CLP plan, but at least we have one!

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

In ’94, a new obsession was born – Cruising.

We embarked on the maiden voyage of the Carnival Fascination.

We left from New York, and arrived a few days early. Before we left, my parents gave Panic and I a choice of any Broadway show… Of course, we chose the newly opened (really – we saw the original cast) Beauty and the Beast.

My parents were disappointed by this choice at first, but once the show started, they were sold! That show was amazing. Afterwards, we were getting in the cab back to the hotel, and both panic and I were gushing “thank you daddy, this was the best night ever” My dad says it still ranks as one of his top 10 best moments as a dad.

The next morning, before we boarded the ship, we went in search of breakfast. I mean, we’re in New York – we should be able to find a deli – right? No such luck. Eventually we ended up in Rockafeller Center. They had a small breakfast. Grumpy, Queenie and I chose the lox and bagels, Panic ordered the eggs benedict.

When it came, it was about as big as she was… and she ate the whole thing!

Then we headed out in a carriage ride through Central Park.

Panic had done a book report on Balto (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balto)– the Bravest Dog ever. The last line in the book was “if your ever in New York City, look for the bronze statue of Balto in Central Park.” Since it was comeuppance for the search for Martha a few years before (after this, my parents no longer let us read true stories about things memorialized around the country…) we spent the morning tromping around Central Park looking for Balto.

He does exist!

So finally we made it on the ship and were introduced to cruising.

It’s delicious!

The ship did a trip up the Canadian coast. Did you know we were Canadian supermodels in the 90s?

Before we left, my dad was talking with our neighbors who were taking an RV to Canada at the same time. This was right around the time the Al Gore was inventing the internet, so information wasn’t as readily available as it is now, and they figured out that they would both be in “St. Johns” on the same day, so devised a plan to meet up.

Well they never showed, so when we got back my dad was harassing the neighbor, and he said he was there, but the boat never showed. They eventually figured out there are 2 St. Johns – on in New Brunswick and one in Nova Scotia. :laughing

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

Epic fail on keeping this PTR about just December


Maybe if I add the santa smily I can keep it on Topic

So I've been talking to Panic, and she and her DBF are joining us in October

Which beyond just being cool that they're coming... means we get to stay in a Garden Suite at BWI instead of POR! (that totally calls for like 2 bananas)

Not that there's anything bad about POR, but I've been dying to stay in a Garden Suite for years. The first TR I ever read was a wedding report where they stayed in a GS, and I've wanted to stay in one ever since.


So... WooHoo

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

We just found out that our friend (he was DH's Best Man) and his girlfriend are joining us in October too!

Goodbye quiet weekend, hello awesome weekend of F&W fun!

Yippee!

 

[norybell]

Panic had done a book report on Balto (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balto)– the Bravest Dog ever. The last line in the book was “if your ever in New York City, look for the bronze statue of Balto in Central Park.” Since it was comeuppance for the search for Martha a few years before (after this, my parents no longer let us read true stories about things memorialized around the country…) we spent the morning tromping around Central Park looking for Balto.

He does exist!

Oh. My. God. This is bizarre, but I have to tell you...I have that exact same story! Like, in my life! One of my little sisters read that Balto book, and we were on vacation in NY, and we spent forever desperately searching the park for Balto. There were tears involved. Finally we found him.

And here's the other weird thing -- this was also in 1994! As far as we know, we could've been in Central Park AT THE SAME TIME, looking for Balto for our little sisters!

Weird.

Which beyond just being cool that they're coming... means we get to stay in a Garden Suite at BWI instead of POR! (that totally calls for like 2 bananas)

Not that there's anything bad about POR, but I've been dying to stay in a Garden Suite for years. The first TR I ever read was a wedding report where they stayed in a GS, and I've wanted to stay in one ever since.


So... WooHoo

That's so awesome! I didn't know those Garden Suites existed until this past trip, and now I'm dying to stay in one, too. They look so beautiful and peaceful! I love the way they each have a different garden in front...my mom and I spent some time choosing which were our favorites. What great news!

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

Oh. My. God. This is bizarre, but I have to tell you...I have that exact same story! Like, in my life! One of my little sisters read that Balto book, and we were on vacation in NY, and we spent forever desperately searching the park for Balto. There were tears involved. Finally we found him.

And here's the other weird thing -- this was also in 1994! As far as we know, we could've been in Central Park AT THE SAME TIME, looking for Balto for our little sisters!

Weird.


That's so awesome! I didn't know those Garden Suites existed until this past trip, and now I'm dying to stay in one, too. They look so beautiful and peaceful! I love the way they each have a different garden in front...my mom and I spent some time choosing which were our favorites. What great news!

Woah! That's crazy bizarre that you have the same story. Like cue the twilight zone music.

I'm so excited for the Garden Suites And now our friends are joining us too. It's going to be fun!