Just what I wanted for Christmas-LINKS ON PAGE 1--- updated 11/19/10

[racefanof88]

MVMCP tickets ordered!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait for the party to start .

 

[KatMark]

MVMCP tickets ordered!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait for the party to start .

for the tickets

 

[bouncycat]

I guess I need to order mine next huh?

 

[racefanof88]

for the tickets

Thanks Kathy!! I'm getting more excited with each and every day.

I guess I need to order mine next huh?

Yeah girl you need to get your's. I was a little worried that they would sell out since the 9th is the only day, during our trip, that they are allowing the AP rate. I was going to do the print out option, but it automatically picked the will call option for me . That is OK, I will just get them when we get there.

 

[racefanof88]

As most of my friends know Amanda and I had to go to Atlanta for a business trip for her job. I had only been to Atlanta one time before and it was just an overnight trip so Dale and I could go to a race. I thought we had stayed in Hampton, but when Amanda and I were driving through the city I realized we actually stayed in College Park.

So without further ado on with our trip.

We pulled out of the driveway at 7:51am because I wanted to be in our hotel room before dark. I'm not the driver in our family so I was a weeeeeeee bit nervous . We filled the van up with gas and headed toward I-65. For those who have driven I-65 through Mobile you know there is a HUGH bridge on I-65. We call it the Dolly Parton bridge and it is VERY high and as my friends know, I am TERRIFIED of high bridges.

We made it to the bridge and with a prayer I made it over .
We saw the funniest thing I think I've seen in a while on an overpass. You know how everyone tells you not to text and drive? They say to pull over first. Well, as Amanda and I were driving we saw a man, on a horse, sitting on the side of the road, texting..........

We stopped in Evergreen at McDonald's for a bathroom break. Conecuh sausage is made in Evergreen and for those who have never had Conecuh sausage; it is delicious!! Anyway, we jumped back on I-65 and we were on our way once again. We hit the interchange to I-75 in Montgomery and I was driving in unchartered territory, well for me anyway.

I don't think I have ever seen as many dead deer on the road as I saw on our way to and from Atlanta . It was something to add to my nervousness as I was worried a deer would run out in front of us . We made it too Auburn around lunch time and I did not realize we would be in the middle of half the state of Georgia heading home after the Auburn/Georgia game that was played on Saturday . Nor did I think about the fact we have an Alabama National Championship tag on the front of the van and a tag holder with the same on the back of the van......

This is the point in the trip where it became white knuckle, freak out, scared to death driving . NO ONE and I mean NO ONE drives the speed limit. If the signs read 65; everyone was driving 95. People pulling campers were doing 80. I really was scared to death and could not imagine driving like that every day. The directions were more than confusing as it had us getting off I-75 onto I-85 then back on I-75 then getting on 285 .

We started seeing the city in the distance and Amanda got some pictures with my phone.

Of course I got off on a wrong exit, but now I know where Turner Field is....... It is on this exit, right next to the interstate.

The City

Yes these are pictures Amanda took while I was trying to find my way back to the interstate........lol.

We got back on the interstate and thank goodness it wasn't much further to our exit for the hotel. We stayed in at the Crowne Plaza in Dunwoody and it was right off 285. Very easy to find and VERY nice, we were on the 12th floor. We got checked in about 2:30pm so it only took us 5 and 1/2 hours to get there; even with getting lost . We lost an hour because of the time zone change. Following are some pictures I took in the lobby and from our room.

Lobby

Our view

The most comfortable bed I have EVER slept in.

Amanda going over the room service menu.

Now this is how to serve pizza !!

The pizza wasn't very good, but the salad was delicious. We decided on room service because we were tired and Amanda had some reading to do for her meetings. I was really homesick the first night too. I thought my computer had crashed, but it was actually the outlets at the hotel.

We went to bed around 11:00 because we had to get up at 6:00 so we could be ready and find the building where Amanda had her meetings.

More to come later with lots of pictures.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Dana, Lacey said it was really hard to adjust to the slow drivers here in Louisiana after she had navigated the Atlanta traffic for so many years. Every time we go through Atlanta, there are travel trailers passing us like we are sitting still.

At least your hotel and the view were nice. I wanna hear about the rest of ya'lls time there.

 

[bouncycat]

Looks like a blast so far!!! Love the pictures, we drive thru atlanta going to my brother in law's house in Kentucky....so I know that traffic well!!! I don't miss it either. Love my nice hometown itty bitty biggest thing that happens is a shuttle launch hometown now!! LOL

 

[racefanof88]

Dana, Lacey said it was really hard to adjust to the slow drivers here in Louisiana after she had navigated the Atlanta traffic for so many years. Every time we go through Atlanta, there are travel trailers passing us like we are sitting still.

At least your hotel and the view were nice. I wanna hear about the rest of ya'lls time there.

I can imagine it would be hard to adjust. I know that there is no way I could adjust to Atlanta driving on a daily basis . I was scared to death .

The view was very nice. I was really surprised how the traffic seemed to disappear around 8pm. I'm gonna try and post more tomorrow.

Looks like a blast so far!!! Love the pictures, we drive thru atlanta going to my brother in law's house in Kentucky....so I know that traffic well!!! I don't miss it either. Love my nice hometown itty bitty biggest thing that happens is a shuttle launch hometown now!! LOL

Thanks Christie . I just couldn't drive in that traffic every day. I love my hometown too. I don't like big city driving.

 

[bouncycat]

I'm not to fond of big city driving either.....but ya gotta do what ya gotta do!! We MAY have another friend with us next weekend, someone that was stationed with me and Chris back when I was in the CG!!! I haven't seen her in probably 12 years, since Tyler was a baby anyways. So should be fun!! We're not going over there this weekend, to save for the 27th. I might still need the WC, cause I'm feeling fine today, but still weak. I'm SOOOOO glad Chris came home, cause he's been awesome!!!

 

[racefanof88]

I'm not to fond of big city driving either.....but ya gotta do what ya gotta do!! We MAY have another friend with us next weekend, someone that was stationed with me and Chris back when I was in the CG!!! I haven't seen her in probably 12 years, since Tyler was a baby anyways. So should be fun!! We're not going over there this weekend, to save for the 27th. I might still need the WC, cause I'm feeling fine today, but still weak. I'm SOOOOO glad Chris came home, cause he's been awesome!!!

That's what they tell me, but I've never been much of a conformist.... That would be fun if your friend can join ya'll. I have some old friends I would love to see, and I have looked for them on FB, but sadly I can't find them . I know you are glad to have Chris home to help you, wish I could get Dale to do stuff around here .

 

[Nemo32]

Awesome hotel room!

 

[racefanof88]

When I left off Amanda and I were retiring for the night. I had set the alarm for 6:00am, but she said we could sleep for 30 minutes longer; I didn't argue. So when the alarm went off again she got up to get her shower and start getting ready. The room included breakfast for one in the Bistro 55 Restaurant on the first floor. Of course she was not ready in time to eat so she grabbed a coffee and muffin at the Starbucks in the lobby. I was concerned about finding the office building where her meetings were to take place so we left the hotel around 8:00. It took us all of 5 minutes to find the building, it was behind the hotel, on the same property.

I went back to the hotel and used the breakfast credit

The options were to order from the menu or get the buffet; I decided on the buffet. I ordered my diet Coke and some coffee to drink. I'm not much of a coffee drinker, but for some reason when I eat a breakfast buffet I like to have some coffee . The coffee was amazingly good. The food was OK, nothing to write home about. I'm glad it was complimentary because I would never have paid $16.00 for it.

The little flower on my table.

I don't like to eat alone, but it was actually OK. It was raining outside and it was really quiet and peaceful. I signed the ticket, gave the waitress her tip and decided to head over to the mall. As I am driving in the mall parking lot I see this sign

Then I see this

I thought it was too funny that the ducks crossed at that sign......

I parked in the parking garage and walked over to the mall. It was raining and I have a huge umbrella and did not realize just how heavy it was until I carried it around the mall . So anyway, the stores were not open yet so I just walked around looking, and taking a few pictures with my phone.

I was tired of walking so I sat down to wait for the stores to open, and I took a few more pictures.

As I'm sitting there, taking it all in, watching the people do their morning walks, I noticed the advertisements in the store windows directly in front of me. It was a Victoria's Secrets store and next door was a Motherhood Maternity store. My immediate thoughts were------Before and After.......

I took pictures of the windows, but I don't know that the Disboards is a place to display the VS picture; I don't think they are very appropriate in a mall window either.

When Macy's opened I went in to look around. I was pleasantly surprised with the sale they were having and bought two of Amanda's Christmas gifts. I made my way to Nordstrom's and Bloomingdale's and was SHOCKED at their prices. They did not even had the prices displayed as most stores do, you had to look at the item to see the price, and can you say sticker shock . I found a nice plain white shirt on a 60% discount rack in Bloomingdale's and at 60% off it was still $160.00. Now we aren't talking anything fancy either, just a plain white shirt. Now I can understand why there isn't a Bloomingdale's or Nordstrom's in our malls around here . I really wanted to find some nice long sleeve shirts for Disney . I guess I was just a country mouse in the big city though.

After walking around for a couple, of hours I headed back to the hotel; I was hungry and exhausted. I decided to eat some snacks and take a nap instead of ordering lunch.

More to come later.

 

[KatMark]

I don't know how ANYONE can drive in Atlanta...they are ALL nuts out there.

I love the geese crossing the road (as long as they aren't crossing in front of me because I just want to beep the horn to get them moving...slowest darn things I've ever seen).

I loved your comment about VS and the Motherhood store...very clever.

Nordstroms and Bloomingdale's are ridiculous with their prices...I won't even go in them (I will hit Nordstroms Off the Rack once in a great while). I don't shop at Macy's (long story short...I will never forgive them for taking over our Marshall Field's and changing the name to Macy's...my grandmother probably turned in her grave when she heard that...she would have been 103 this year), but glad you found some good deals there.

 

[racefanof88]

Awesome hotel room!

It was really nice. I'm not a big fan of being on the upper floors, especially when they hang the "What to do in a fire" sign on the door...., but other than that it was great.......

 

[racefanof88]

I don't know how ANYONE can drive in Atlanta...they are ALL nuts out there.

I love the geese crossing the road (as long as they aren't crossing in front of me because I just want to beep the horn to get them moving...slowest darn things I've ever seen).

I loved your comment about VS and the Motherhood store...very clever.

Nordstrom's and Bloomingdale's are ridiculous with their prices...I won't even go in them (I will hit Nordstroms Off the Rack once in a great while). I don't shop at Macy's (long story short...I will never forgive them for taking over our Marshall Field's and changing the name to Macy's...my grandmother probably turned in her grave when she heard that...she would have been 103 this year), but glad you found some good deals there.

You are so right about the drivers in Atlanta .

I posted the pictures from the two stores on my FB page. It was really funny seeing them right next door to one another...

I just could not believe the prices at Nordstrom's or Bloomingdale's. I would never pay those prices for a shirt. I'm the person who drops something on myself almost every time I eat, so I would be a nervous wreck if I had on a $160 shirt . We don't have a Macy's here either, but we get the commercials ALL the time for some reason. I guess the closest Macy's to me would be in Metarie, La.

 

[Nemo32]

Nice breakfast spread!

And about the VS and maternity ads...

 

[longing2Batdisney]

Hey Dana!
first on the christmas tickets! (sorry can't think of the initials at the moments...)
next, the room looked so nice and comfy! looks like you would melt in the bed...
and too funny about the VS and Mat. Store, but sounds like you had a nice walk and shopping experience at the mall....
I love the fall colors you had to look at it from your room view!
my sister lives just north of Atlanta and their business in suppose to be in downtown Atlanta so she is one of those crazy people driving around on those interstates and I can believe she would drive that way
me I never could bring myself to do 5 over the posted speed...drives Danny and my kids crazy (Dayne says I have no right driving the car I drive...I tell him sure I do, more than they do...I believe you leave it for the track! --not that I would do that either I get flutters riding Test Track )
Connie

 

[racefanof88]

Nice breakfast spread!

And about the VS and maternity ads...

The food was decent. The pecans were actually from the oatmeal bar, but they were very good on the pancakes .

The ads were too funny. I wonder who placed these two stores next to each other.....

Hey Dana!
first on the christmas tickets! (sorry can't think of the initials at the moments...)
next, the room looked so nice and comfy! looks like you would melt in the bed...
and too funny about the VS and Mat. Store, but sounds like you had a nice walk and shopping experience at the mall....
I love the fall colors you had to look at it from your room view!
my sister lives just north of Atlanta and their business in suppose to be in downtown Atlanta so she is one of those crazy people driving around on those interstates and I can believe she would drive that way
me I never could bring myself to do 5 over the posted speed...drives Danny and my kids crazy (Dayne says I have no right driving the car I drive...I tell him sure I do, more than they do...I believe you leave it for the track! --not that I would do that either I get flutters riding Test Track )
Connie

I can't wait to see MVMCP; I have been to MNSSHP and to the now defunct Pirates and Princess Party, and I loved them both. I know the Christmas party will be great.

The room was great; I was nervous though, being away from home. I enjoyed the mall, even though I'm not much on doing a lot alone. The store ads were too funny.

The fall colors were amazing!!!! We just don't get those colors here. I guess we have too many evergreens around here. And I don't know how anyone can drive in that craziness everyday. It was almost more than I could take.

 

[KatMark]

Happy Thanksgiving to you and all of your family, Dana.

 

[racefanof88]

Happy Thanksgiving to you and all of your family, Dana.

Thanks Kathy . I hope you and your's had a great Thanksgiving too. I was so tired last night I forgot to get on here and wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving .