Just a silly little TR - Run Away!!

[pkondz]

Does the word start with a "B'?

Like 'Bleach'?

Really? Sounded like what you wanted to say. If say the word beach as 2 different words, I think that might be the word you're looking for. Oh right, family board.

Yup. Bleach sounds like beach.

Good Karma or bad karma? If it's bad, hopefully it's only on the way TO the beach and not AT the beach.

Bad... for Mr. B and Mr. & Mrs. Nasty. And I couldn't be happier.

I'm glad you finally got that straightened out.

YOU'RE glad!!!

Oh man. I didn't even have time to travel to Backstage Gal's house yet. She has beer and wine you know. Well at least wine. Or she did and may need to already buy more.

If it's white, I'm coming over. Especially German... gotta support zee fazzer land, ya?

Not yet. But I get the sense the way it's going at the Pkondz household, it won't be long. And I'm willing to wager it would be a feminine feline.

Nope. That's one animal that Ruby does NOT do.

Yes it is. Walt Disney WORLD is a big big place. Can let them expand their horizons at Epcot and the World showcase. (pssst. Kay, Elle; I'm on your side and trying to help you out).

Oh, relax. Elle still wants to to to Disney World for her 16th. Didn't you notice the ticker? Sheesh!

Although I do know that I was risking a figurative public stoning by saying that I discouraged Disney.

Do you have some super secret spy camera that you're watching us all on?

No, of course not, that would be... hey! Don't scratch yourself THERE when I'm typing!!

I collect the occasional souvenir or two or 3. Ok. We collect a lot. My biggest collection is Hard Rock Pins. I should've told you to bring me one back. I don't have one from Hawaii, YET.

I sort of envy people who collect things. I envy their passion for collecting. I just don't have it, or want to start it maybe. I think I used to start but then would lose interest and have a collection I no longer wanted. So.... no more collections.

Nah. We're having fun laughing at the funny stories you're telling us.

Well that's good at least.

You could've gotten them up. Pay back for all those years they made you get up early to go to school.

D'Oh! Why didn't I think of that???

Ok. I would have to say I'm a little disappointed with that picture. Being the MASTER of PHOTOSHOP and all. One would think you would've adjusted the brightness, fixed the hue, tweeked the contrast, played around with the saturation, etc.. From someone like me, that picture could be expected. From someone with your talents, totally unacceptable.

I actually thought long and hard about fixing it. I contemplated whether cleaning it up might take away from the mood. Dark. Rainy. Foggy. Versus cleaning it up and having a much clearer idea of the car...

Then I just ran out of time and threw in what I had.

Usually when I start vacation, I start on both feet, then alternate between the right and left, putting one in front of the other.

Remind me to tie your shoelaces together.

And I'll break down the next post later. I think I better get some work done.

Thanks for this breakdown. Great job!

 

[pkondz]

I will be sure to join in where I can - I have a pretty high stress job where I travel a great deal, so I can always use some comic relief (either that or mucho quantities of the vino)

Sucks about the high stress job. But hopefully some of your travels take you places you want to go yourself from time to time. Glad we can help out by being a relief valve!

The kgroo is a really lame name that I came up with quickly when I first signed onto the boards. Wish I could change it, but too late now.

Nothing wrong with kgroo. At least it means something. It could be worse, like, oh, I don't know... pkondz or something. THAT would be just ridiculous.

Sometimes I find myself getting certain snacks in WDW just because I love them so much - not necessarily that we are hungry or need a snack. There are many that I can't leave without having.

MK - popcorn, chocolate covered frozen banana, orange whip, cotton candy, corn dog nuggets
Epcot - school bread, rice cream, caramel corn, napoleon, grey goose slushie

On our last day - we usually skip lunch and just snack our way thru the MK. Our last trip, we brought home 4 bags of cotton candy - great snack while driving home

That's one of the best parts of Disney, isn't it? "Wanna go on BTMRR?" "Nah, I just want another Dole Whip Float."

I'm a perma-lurker, but am enjoying your TR very much, so I'm putting aside my usual postaphobia to let you know you're doing a great job!

Lisa

Hi Lisa! Thanks for chiming in! Wow! You've been on the Dis since '06 with only 65 posts and you post on my TR? I'm really quite honored. As soon as I saw your post I told Ruby.

Unfortunately, she isn't quite as enamoured of Disney and all things DIS as I am so it may not have had quite the effect on her as it did on me...

 

[pkondz]

Oh, one last comment....


Oh, I hope not. The more comments, the merrier!


we had a gecko once. It could move REALLY fast.

Yes, you may take that as a friendly warning.

Uh, oh. Thanks for the heads up!

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale. A tale of a fateful trip. That started from this tropic port aboard this tiny ship. The mate was a mighty sailor man the skipper brave and true. Five passengers set sail that day for a three hour tour (bet you didn't think I knew that didja?? HuH? HUH???

I have no idea what you're talking about...

The weather started getting rough, the tiny ship was tossed.
If not for the courage of the fearless crew the Minnow would be lost.
The Minnow would be lost.
The ship set ground on the shore of this uncharted desert isle
With Gilligan,
The Skipper too.
The millionaire,
And his wife,
The movie star,
The professor,
and Mary Ann.
Here on Gilligan's Island!


Oh, and BTW. Definitely Mary Ann. Since it's always the next question after that song.

ponzi, great chapter!

Thanks Marita!

Circeling back to the WDW snack topic for a minute, I have a sad report to make... So my brilliant idea was to stop at The Mara after lunch to get some zebra domes for the first time. But alas, after a 2 hour lunch (most of the time waiting), I had no desire to drive over to Jambo and get out of the car again and walk up and get any, so yet again, this is to be in my future, maybe!

Some day you'll try one... Then you'll drive four hours out of your way to have one of those beauties!

he he it's me Elle!!!!

to late i know everything!

Hi Elle! or should I use my nickname for you???? Welcome to the DIS, honey.

Is this really Elle? Or is this Pkondz pretending to be his daughter?

Yup. It's her. She's been bugging me for a while to read the TR so yesterday she signed herself up and I gave her the link.

Now don't take anything we tell your dad personal. He'll eventually get over and we'll all live happily ever after.

Easy for you to say! Oh! The shame! Oh! The agony!

Kidding of course. We love your dad around here. He makes us laugh and smile.

I'm glad you're kidding about that. Otherwise I just might keel over from a surfeit of humility.. and then this TR will never get to Hawaii.

Be fore-warned though, when Nebo gets back from WDW, this thread will get very interesting.

Oh, yes. We ain't seen nuttin' yet!

Welcome, Elle. Hmm. now we may get another perspective on this trip.

Good luck, Ponzi!

Hi Pkondz! When I saw your update, I wondered who Karma was and why we are reading about her?

Karma was a nice little ole' lady who lived down the street. Her and her sisters Kathy and Katy were always helping out with various charities and church groups. I say "was" because the last thing she and her sisters did was try to help out during the L.A. riots a few years back and when they said they were Karma, Kathy and Katy... or KKK. Well....

Sad. But true.

or not.

You are such a sweet dad, to surprise the girls with a limo! I love their excited faces - which are beautiful, BTW!

Thanks! You are absolutely correct. I am a sweet dad aren't I?

I can't believe how your trip is starting. I love your positive attitude! Nice the way you took leadership at the airport, and that you got in line way ahead of the Beligirant and Not Nice families! Kharma for sure!

You bet! Don't mess with it, I'm tellin' ya!

Your little souvenier story is so cute! Kids don't want to hear those things about parents!

I know... isn't it fun?

Welcome Elle, now you can fill us in on the parts our "old man" might forget!

She already has! In the next chapter, there's a part I forgot that she reminded me of.

Love the limo surprise, Great start to a not so great start! Glad to hear you kept your sense of humor and that karma bit those other people in the Canadian Rockies!



I used to work for an airline and sometimes when we flew standby we would end up in the cockpit. This onetime I was sitting there in the jump seat as the pilots were going through their preflight checks. A gentle knock on the door and a flight attendant comes in saying a passenger in seat (something or other) says he is hearing a noise coming from below his seat. The pilots look at each other and one says "hmmm, what's under there?" the other replies "nothing". "ok then let's just get going" !!!!!!!!!!!!!! What!!! Silently I'm screaming, GO CHECK IT OUT!! But no, they pushed back and off we went. I never opted for the cockpit again!
.

I can see where sometimes ignorance really is bliss!

 

[laura74]

I am so glad I found this report! I'm a huge fan of all the Nebo bantering and glad to see more of it here. I have to say there is sort of a vortex of breaking down the posts. I think it go could go on for infinity.

Gratuitous marketing: smart-butt comments welcome at my trip report. Click the link. Please?

 

[pkondz]

I am so glad I found this report! I'm a huge fan of all the Nebo bantering and glad to see more of it here. I have to say there is sort of a vortex of breaking down the posts. I think it go could go on for infinity.

That's true! Care to get sucked in? Make a few comments and stay awhile! (and yes I remember you from Nebo's POTC TR, nice to see you again.

Gratuitous marketing: smart-butt comments welcome at my trip report. Click the link. Please?

I can't read your TR right now, I have a Wahine TR to comment on first (yes I'm talking about you MAGICFOR2!) but I've subscribed and will comment first chance I get. How can I resist a "smart-butt comment" request???

 

[laura74]

I can't read your TR right now, I have a Wahine TR to comment on first (yes I'm talking about you MAGICFOR2!) but I've subscribed and will comment first chance I get. How can I resist a "smart-butt comment" request???

I knew I loved you for a reason!

 

[Backstage_Gal]

I am so glad I found this report! I'm a huge fan of all the Nebo bantering and glad to see more of it here. I have to say there is sort of a vortex of breaking down the posts. I think it go could go on for infinity.

Gratuitous marketing: smart-butt comments welcome at my trip report. Click the link. Please?

OK, I fell for the plea and I have to give a great big to Laura's report, it is very entertaining reading.
So everyone, join in over there as well.

 

[laura74]

OK, I fell for the plea and I have to give a great big to Laura's report, it is very entertaining reading.
So everyone, join in over there as well.

Marita, you are now my CMO. Thanks for the kind words! A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do to get readers.

I have a really great cookie recipe that I'll give to anyone who comments on my report. Seems to be a thing with you people.

 

[Mom&RN]

Just found your trip report today. Guess I'm not too, too late to the party since you haven't even left the airport yet

 

[Backstage_Gal]

Marita, you are now my CMO. Thanks for the kind words! A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do to get readers.

Thanks, Laura, I am honored, but what is a CMO, LOL?

 

[Queenofallthings]

I'm exhausted after that update!

Ok...girls are as beautiful as I remember them to be, can't wait to see them next month....hopefully at our Wpg Dis-Meet! The hairspray didn`t cause much of a panic....if it was my hairspray I might have cried....can`t got anywhere without my hairspray!

You have no idea how happy it makes me that you handled a stressful situation with such grace and ease I don`t understand people most of the time, but this kind of stuff makes me crazy! I guess because people treat my young men and women at work the same....like it`s their fault it`s lined up to the door at month end...it`s their fault the service charges on their account are going up June 1.....but you already know I handle that quite well!!!No one treats my people poorly!! Ok off my soap box!

Karma is a wonderful and beautiful thing isn`t it....you didn`t happen to grab a picture of the three of them at the back of the line did ya

 

[queenbetsey]

Great chapter Ponzi, and even though you don't want another guess I will throw one in there anyway, My guess is Marvin. (check the avatar)
Very good job at being positive during that mess. Sad that some folks need to be such jerks.
So miss zebra domes. Maybe if we all knew someone who say lived or worked out at the world we could peraps figure a way to have them mailed to us poor folks who are so very very far away.... .
And I have yet to have a dole whip and live less than an hour away from the house of mouse. Problem is the line for those things is crazy long. But when we hit DL at the end of the month that is on the list.
Just wish they would get zebra domes......

oh yeah and welcome Lady Elle. Your dad is one funny guy. Glad to have you here with us.

 

[pkondz]

Just found your trip report today. Guess I'm not too, too late to the party since you haven't even left the airport yet

Nope! You're absolutely not too late, 'cause you're right we haven't left the airport and... hey! Was that a dig???

I'm exhausted after that update!

YOU'RE exhausted!

Ok...girls are as beautiful as I remember them to be, can't wait to see them next month....hopefully at our Wpg Dis-Meet!



The hairspray didn`t cause much of a panic....if it was my hairspray I might have cried....can`t got anywhere without my hairspray!

Have you ever seen "The Cat Came Back"? Well.... You'll see.

You have no idea how happy it makes me that you handled a stressful situation with such grace and ease

Oh, I don't know about that. I really wanted to grab him by the scruff of the neck and give him a smack.

Karma is a wonderful and beautiful thing isn`t it....you didn`t happen to grab a picture of the three of them at the back of the line did ya

No, I didn't. The camera was pretty much packed away until after the plane ride.

Great chapter Ponzi, and even though you don't want another guess I will throw one in there anyway, My guess is Marvin. (check the avatar)

As promised ladies and gentlemen here is my first official "No Comment". But it would be kinda neat if Marvin was my first name, wouldn't it?

I just said "kinda neat" in a sentence.... I must be more tired then I thought!

Very good job at being positive during that mess. Sad that some folks need to be such jerks.

There's almost never a reason for it.

So miss zebra domes. Maybe if we all knew someone who say lived or worked out at the world we could peraps figure a way to have them mailed to us poor folks who are so very very far away.... .

Oh, if only. But I can see it now. "Oh look! It's a package from Disney. Yay! Umm... it's leaking... uhhh... it's a box full of melted chocolate."

I'd probably eat it anyway.

And I have yet to have a dole whip and live less than an hour away from the house of mouse. Problem is the line for those things is crazy long. But when we hit DL at the end of the month that is on the list.
Just wish they would get zebra domes......

I don't think I'd stand in line very long for a Dole Whip float. A short line, sure. But a long one? Nah.

 

[pkondz]

Just a quick update. I'm too pooped to pop right now, but I hope to have a chapter up tomorrow night. See y'all then!


As a Canadian, saying "Y'all" is a special treat, eh?

 

[bankr63]

hopefully at our Wpg Dis-Meet!

Wow! There's more than one Dis'er up around Portage and Main! Who knew?

Actually, with Elle joining us now, there's at least 3!!!

I bet Queenofallthings knows names...

 

[pkondz]

Wow! There's more than one Dis'er up around Portage and Main! Who knew?

Actually, with Elle joining us now, there's at least 3!!!

I bet Queenofallthings knows names...

Actually, at our first (and so far only) Dis meet there was (and Queen, correct me if I'm wrong here) 14? of us? About half or so were kids though. Pretty sure there were 9 adults.

Don't know if Queen would remember names. It was a while ago.

 

[pkondz]

Ups and Downs (and ups and downs and ups and….)

We last left off with Karma striking down miscreants at the airport and our four heroes at the front of the United check in line… again.

Okay. Me and your three heroes.

We get up to the counter and the woman behind it takes one look at our now defunct boarding passes and starts to shake her head.
“Uh, oh”, I think to myself. Time to pull out my trump card, my coup de grace, my ace in the hole.

I smile and say, “Hi! How you doing today?”

Okay, it’s not much. But it never hurts to be polite, doesn’t cost you anything and just might make the person you’re dealing with try just a little harder to help you out. Don’t believe me? Just look at the end of the line, over there. See?

The United lady starts pecking at her keyboard, deals out a few tarot cards, consults with her Ouija board, shakes her head while muttering arcane incantations and finally announces. “I can get you to Honolulu tonight… if I split you up.”
Ummm… split up how? Can’t send the DDs off on their own… tempting as that sounds.

“Two and two.” She says.
Okay. Let’s do it.


Just a side note. While she was typing madly away and getting our new boarding passes set up, a young couple (guessing on their honeymoon?) stepped up to the next available counter and were told that they would have to overnight and would only get to Honolulu the next day. Looks like we got the last seats on the last plane for that day. I’ll never know for sure. But I really hope that Mr. Belligerent and Mr. & Mrs. Nasty didn’t even get out of Winnipeg that day.


Elle tugs on my sleeve and says, “Dad, now we can get my hairspray out of the garbage can and put it in your bag.”
Good idea! We had tossed it into a small out of the way garbage can with nothing else in it. Chances are it’ll still be in there all by itself.

Ruby and Kay will be travelling from Winnipeg to Denver at 1:38pm arriving at 3pm. They would have 46 minutes to run and try to catch the 3:46pm flight to San Francisco. There they could relax for an hour and 45 minutes until the 7:15pm flight to Honolulu. I was worried that they might not make their connection in Denver. We talked about it and decided that if they missed it, Elle and I would continue on to Honolulu, get the rental car, check in at the Hotel and pick them up the next day. Elle and I? We were leaving Winnipeg at 12:19pm for Chicago where we had an hour and a half layover before our 4pm flight to San Francisco where we had 30 minutes to meet up with Ruby and Kay and jump on the flight to Honolulu.
Holy crap!


I kept hearing Phil Keoghan’s voice from The Amazing Race (which the four of us like to watch).
“Both teams are now making their way to Honolulu. The first team consisting of Pkondz and Elle are flying via Chicago and San Francisco while the second team consisting of Ruby and Kay are travelling via Denver and San Francisco. The last team to arrive… may be eliminated.”

That last part always sounds so ominous. It’s like they’re going to take out a hit on the last team. Mind you that’s probably an even better incentive than $1 million.


I grab the bags, run them over to the bag eating machine again and send them packing. (Sorry. Couldn’t resist.)

Yes. I did it again. I sent the bags off before finding the hairspray and putting it in.

Leave me alone. It’s been a stressful day and it ain’t over yet!


Ruby and Kay head one way. Elle and I head off in the opposite direction. Ruby and Kay have no problems catching their connection in Denver and arrive in San Francisco with time enough for a nice meal.

Elle and I? Wellll….

Our flight out of Winnipeg is delayed by about 20 minutes or so. Not a problem since we have a 90 minute layover… but disconcerting when we only have a 30 minute layover in Frisco. It was an uneventful flight. Oh, I might’ve accidentally knocked over my glass of coke, but no damage was done. It completely missed me, other than a couple of drops.

Oh, sure. Elle’s pants got soaked, but that doesn’t really affect me, now does it?

As we’re flying into Chicago, I mention to Elle that this is where Nebo and Smidgy live(technically Carpentersville). I then say, “And there’s his house!” and Elle replies, “And there he is in the backyard!” and I reply, “I’m waving, but he’s not waving back… kinda rude.” And Elle replies, “You should write about that in your TR.” And I reply, “Okay, I will.”

And I did.


We get off the plane in Chicago and start off in search of our next gate. Anyone here ever flown into or out of Chicago? It’s big. No wait, it’s BIG. We start walking. And walking. We go through some halls. Descend a few flights of stairs. Climb a few mountains. Traverse a few ravines. (Where is that gate?) Ford a few rivers. Rappel down a few cliffs. (Where the heck is that gate??) Bungee off a bridge. Get shot out of a cannon. (Where the %@$$# is that GATE????) And finally arrive at our gate. Okay. Time for lunch. We’re certainly not going to have time for that at our next stop. I mosey up to the gate keeper and politely enquire when boarding will begin as I wait for my pounding heart rate to settle down out of the imminent heart attack region.

“We’ll be boarding in eight minutes.”

“Thank you very much.”… “Elle! QUICK! There’s a food cart right there, grab two yogurts!”

We get on the flight and are not sitting together. Elle’s in a middle seat a few rows up (she’s probably just as glad… no more coke tossed into her lap). I’m in the middle seat at the back. There was an elderly woman already settled in whom I didn’t want to bother, so I asked each of the other three people if they would mind switching seats so I could sit with my daughter. Especially since they were flying by themselves. Of course you know what these kind people all answered.

Nope.
Nope.
and Nope.

I should’ve told ‘em about karma.


We get to San Francisco right on time and we get lucky. Our gate is a stone’s throw from where we de-planed. Sweet! And there’s Ruby and Kay! Double sweet!

Kay comes running towards us and launches herself into my arms.


Nebo, when you read this you’re probably wincing in anticipation already. And yes, just like how your life flashes before you before your imminent demise, thoughts of me laid up with my back out flashed through my mind as Kay’s feet left the ground. Luckily, I was okay and we all were able to board in one piece.


Unfortunately, around this time Kay started to feel ill with a cold and when we were descending into Honolulu, her ears were really hurting. Wasn’t much I could do for her though. Poor thing was bothered by her ears for the next few days. I won’t mention it again, but she wasn’t feeling too great for the week we were there and it did have an affect on her as you’ll see.


At long last, at 10pm, we set foot on Hawaiian soil. We grab our car and head off to our Hotel, the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort. It’s almost as big as its name. Five towers, a conference center, shopping complex, etc. I know already where they’re putting us. Because of Ruby’s work, we have a conference rate. Because of the low rate and the fact that the conference is in the Tapas tower (and we know that’s where her co-worker was put) we already know where we’re going to be.

Except the Tapas tower is probably the least desirable of the bunch. What I really wanted was the Rainbow tower. Right on the beach. Yup. That’s what I want. Not going to happen, of course, unless we pay a lot extra. And we just don’t have the funds. And then of course there’s the Ali’i tower. It’s the newest and most exclusive with its own check –in desk and private pool on the second floor. It’s where Obama stayed when he was in Hawaii last December. La dee da! That’s for the rich folk and rulers of countries.


Nebo has a little trick or two up his sleeve for getting nice rooms… so do I.

The check in girl taps on her keyboard for a while and asks if we’d like a King bed instead of the two beds we’ve booked?

Nope. Can’t. Got kids, so there’s four of us.

She taps some more then apologizes. “I’m sorry, but I couldn’t get you an ocean front room. But I did get you a partial ocean view in the Ali’i tower.”


Jackpot!

Taken the next morning, here’s the view from our lanai (balcony). It’s a little skewed ‘cause I took a panorama shot (actually 10 shots stitched together) so the concrete on the left and right sides of the picture are the same piece and is in a straight line.

We grab our suitcases, head to our room, fall into our beds and pass out.

Total time awake: 25 hours.
Travel time: 21 hours
Being in Hawaii: Priceless

 

[mmeb144]

Taken the next morning, here’s the view from our lanai (balcony). It’s a little skewed ‘cause I took a panorama shot (actually 10 shots stitched together) so the concrete on the left and right sides of the picture are the same piece and is in a straight line.

We grab our suitcases, head to our room, fall into our beds and pass out.

Total time awake: 25 hours.
Travel time: 21 hours
Being in Hawaii: Priceless[/COLOR][/B]

Wow, nice view! I can't believe you were awake 25 hours! At least you didn't have to worry about jet lag, or, did you...

 

[Queenofallthings]

Actually, at our first (and so far only) Dis meet there was (and Queen, correct me if I'm wrong here) 14? of us? About half or so were kids though. Pretty sure there were 9 adults.

Don't know if Queen would remember names. It was a while ago.[/COLOR][/B]

My friends dont call me Rainman for nothin!!! There was purpleblanket, DisneyBrat, her hubby and little girl, my sister, her hubby and 2 girls, Hooked on the Mouse, her hubby and 3 kiddies, you and your girls and me....17 in total!!!

Off to catch up on your newest post....tell Elle to stop by my TR....would love to chat with her!

 

[Queenofallthings]

Thank God you made it! I was gettin worried!

You spilled your coke....I spilled my coke in August on our way to Disney! LOL....MM did not find it amusing when it hit her and my Ipod Touch

No one would switch seats....again I ask.....what is wrong with people. Clearly they know nothing of this karma to which you speak....silly fools!

Great view....score!!!

P.S. Welcome to the boards Elle