Life is too short for self-hatred and celery sticks: final update 12/29, p.98

[Ms. WDW]

After an afternoon of trying to find a gas station opened and WITH gas, looking at these picures was a little bit of Heaven!!

Which reminds me...it's almost time to make next October's reservation!

 

[rentayenta]

After an afternoon of trying to find a gas station opened and WITH gas, looking at these picures was a little bit of Heaven!!

Which reminds me...it's almost time to make next October's reservation!

When do the rations start? Growing up we owned a Union 76 station and I remember the gas rationing days too. I believe we were an even day. What a pain. How are you?

Do you go every October? ​

 

[PrincessInOz]

Amazing update. I love Food and Wine...just wished I lived closer. And I'm with Michael. Is it wrong to admit that I loved the candid shots of you?

Nice to have a DisMeet. I've always found all my DisMeet buddies to be awesome!

 

[rentayenta]

Amazing update. I love Food and Wine...just wished I lived closer. And I'm with Michael. Is it wrong to admit that I loved the candid shots of you?

Nice to have a DisMeet. I've always found all my DisMeet buddies to be awesome!

Thank you We had such a good time and meeting Jen was a treat. I love how meeting people in real life after meeting them online now carries virtually no taboo. Jenna is a dear dear friend and I met her on a Disney website.

I'd love to do an adults only F&W trip and stay at the BWV or BCV.​

 

[kaoden39]

I am loving your updates. I just don't comment much.


We were an odd day.

 

[Goofyluver]

Those are "love shots" that Michael took. He must love you a lot. And yes, UncleR does them too. Mine are just never very flattering.

Also, are those Hebrew Nationals on the grill?

I've never done F&W, but UncleR has. My school schedule just doesn't allow it. I need to just skip work, I'm thinking.

Naps at Disney...aren't they the best???

 

[rentayenta]

I am loving your updates. I just don't comment much.


We were an odd day.

Thanks for reading along. I feel terrible for everyone affected by Sandy. The ripple effects will be felt for a while.​

Those are "love shots" that Michael took. He must love you a lot. And yes, UncleR does them too. Mine are just never very flattering.

Also, are those Hebrew Nationals on the grill?

I've never done F&W, but UncleR has. My school schedule just doesn't allow it. I need to just skip work, I'm thinking.

Naps at Disney...aren't they the best???

I like love shots! Mine aren't flattering either but they make me laugh.

Nathan's are on the grill. Loved having a grill right outside of the villa. What the THV lack in proximity they make up for in charm. Seriously, such a great relaxing vibe there.

I didn't nap but the kids did almost daily, especially the girls. Teenagers. Does Jon sleep like that? Maybe its a girl thing? Joshua isn't a big napper either and Michael never naps.

You must to skip work for F&W. Its that worth it! I promise. You're such a foodie, you'd flip. I'm guessing UncleR enjoyed it. Ireland was my favorite. I need to go find my menus to describe exactly what we ate.​

 

[kaoden39]

I feel for them as well. It has got to be so hard to go through everything. Plus the power being off for so long, with the winter cold. It's just awful.

 

[franandaj]

A GV would be nice but I think your plan now is great!

How wonderful for you and your band. I bet they'll be so excited.

Why no kiosks at the festival? I'm guessing it some law?​

It will be really cool to experience a GV next year and invite a bunch people from the band to come stay. We had 15 at dinner last night, but I don't think any of them would be up for bunking 4 to a room so we'd have to figure it out on how the whole thing worked. They value their park time so not sure how much hanging in the Villa and that would be the appeal, but if we have to perform the next day we don't want to be up all night. We are getting old! That 50th is creeping up on me, but this would be a good test run!

I'm not sure what it is about the food laws in CA that don't allow the Kiosks, but we got relatively close with the Director of the CA F&W Festival a few years ago (a lot of people did! ) and he said that the "food police" showed up at every event, Sweet Sundays, Culinary Demos, etc. California just sucks, we have become such a litigious state that everything is more restricted, food, firearms, vehicles (don't get me started on THAT one!) you name it we have someone looking over your shoulder making sure that no one will cause a law suit.

I know that to offer the "tapas" like samples they had to have them one central location. I think it has something to do with they can't serve cooked (not preprepared food) out of a non licensened kitchen. If they had to take out a license for "x" amount of kitchens to prepare food, it would have cut into the revenue that they could have made. As a result each CS place had a "dish" that was special for F&W, but since it cost $7.99 just like everything else on the menu, only die hard foodies wanted to try it. I guess they couldn't see putting extra labor into a $4 dish when everything else was $8.

There was only one location with $2-7 plates and that sort of deafeated the Epcot style of F&W, but evidently to add small plates to the CS locations wasn't economical because of the minimum wages of staff and kitchen licensing requirements. I don't know all the details, but suffice to say, lots of things in CA suck!

I like love shots! Mine aren't flattering either but they make me laugh.
​

Oh Come on! You look really hot! in a girlfriend to girlfriend sort of way. If I looked like you I would be thrilled! I just wish I didn't have to shop at the fat women's stores! Even in HS I was size 13-14 because I was on swim team and I had shoulders like a football player. As an adult instead of losing those shoulders, my hips have expanded to meet the gap!

I'm glad you enjoyed Ireland! Isn't that the BEST kiosk? Since I was there in 2009 they have added a lot of new dishes. I hope you have some more pictures from some other days. I forget now what they have because I stopped paying attention when I realized we weren't going this year. I Sooooooo hope that our 2013 meet works out because I want to spend some time at F&W in addition to with my DIS friends!​

 

[Ms. WDW]

When do the rations start? Growing up we owned a Union 76 station and I remember the gas rationing days too. I believe we were an even day. What a pain. How are you?

Do you go every October? ​

The rationing of gas here in NY started Friday. You know, I've had a less than full tank many, many times and it's never been that big of a deal. But now...very strange feeling knowing you're running out of gas and it's not going to be that easy to find a station that's open and with gas. Hopefully this won't last too long.

Yes; I try to go every October. This past trip made number 6 or seven I think. I've been to WDW so many times that I loose track sometimes! Been going since it first opened!! Giving my age away I think!

I'm ok...getting back to a normal routine (except for the gas situation) and now starting to get ready for the Holidays. Jury Duty resumes Wednesday so that will help get me back on track. I'm on a "Special Grand Jury" and we've been sitting since April 2011 and won't be released until 2014!! We meet two times a week unless we're not "scheduled" to meet. It's an exerience to say the least!!

 

[rentayenta]

Crazy day, I'll be back to respond, just hoping that everyone is having a decent Monday.​

 

[Misskitty3]

Awesome updates! Love the food pics -- yum!

 

[franandaj]

Crazy day, I'll be back to respond, just hoping that everyone is having a decent Monday.​

 

[rentayenta]

It will be really cool to experience a GV next year and invite a bunch people from the band to come stay. We had 15 at dinner last night, but I don't think any of them would be up for bunking 4 to a room so we'd have to figure it out on how the whole thing worked. They value their park time so not sure how much hanging in the Villa and that would be the appeal, but if we have to perform the next day we don't want to be up all night. We are getting old! That 50th is creeping up on me, but this would be a good test run!

I'll be 44 this year. Once I get closer to 50 than 40, it'll hit home. Up all night sounds awful. I've got some girlfriends who still party their butts off, like we did in our 20's. I'm more of a few drinks with dinner or a little day drinking by the pool gal. Long gone are the days of staying up all night...haha....I rarely make it past 11 pm.​

I'm not sure what it is about the food laws in CA that don't allow the Kiosks, but we got relatively close with the Director of the CA F&W Festival a few years ago (a lot of people did! ) and he said that the "food police" showed up at every event, Sweet Sundays, Culinary Demos, etc. California just sucks, we have become such a litigious state that everything is more restricted, food, firearms, vehicles (don't get me started on THAT one!) you name it we have someone looking over your shoulder making sure that no one will cause a law suit.

That stinks! I bet DCA could make it really fun if they were allowed kiosks. I'm assuming that the CA F&W is held in DCA and DTD. Where could they hold it in Disneyland?
​

I know that to offer the "tapas" like samples they had to have them one central location. I think it has something to do with they can't serve cooked (not preprepared food) out of a non licensened kitchen. If they had to take out a license for "x" amount of kitchens to prepare food, it would have cut into the revenue that they could have made. As a result each CS place had a "dish" that was special for F&W, but since it cost $7.99 just like everything else on the menu, only die hard foodies wanted to try it. I guess they couldn't see putting extra labor into a $4 dish when everything else was $8.

That makes sense unfortunately but it's bad. We'd try a whole dish or two and share but do they get the same traffic as WDW's F&W comparatively due to the size of the events.​

Oh Come on! You look really hot! in a girlfriend to girlfriend sort of way. If I looked like you I would be thrilled! I just wish I didn't have to shop at the fat women's stores! Even in HS I was size 13-14 because I was on swim team and I had shoulders like a football player. As an adult instead of losing those shoulders, my hips have expanded to meet the gap!

Well thank you for the kind words. Not sure about hot but thanks. My friend's daughter swims and she's got the prettiest shoulders. But once she got seriously into swimming it became nearly impossible to find dresses that fit properly so she's having to do skirts and shirts.​

I'm glad you enjoyed Ireland! Isn't that the BEST kiosk? Since I was there in 2009 they have added a lot of new dishes. I hope you have some more pictures from some other days. I forget now what they have because I stopped paying attention when I realized we weren't going this year. I Sooooooo hope that our 2013 meet works out because I want to spend some time at F&W in addition to with my DIS friends!

It is the best kiosk. I have more photos of our other F&W days. Are you doing a meet next October during F&W? I loved our mini mini meet. I had another mini meet that was also fun but you'll have to wait..... I missed the big DIS meet but it was the same day as our MNSSHP and we had the perfect plans that day so it was impossible to get away.​

The rationing of gas here in NY started Friday. You know, I've had a less than full tank many, many times and it's never been that big of a deal. But now...very strange feeling knowing you're running out of gas and it's not going to be that easy to find a station that's open and with gas. Hopefully this won't last too long.

Yes; I try to go every October. This past trip made number 6 or seven I think. I've been to WDW so many times that I loose track sometimes! Been going since it first opened!! Giving my age away I think!

I'm ok...getting back to a normal routine (except for the gas situation) and now starting to get ready for the Holidays. Jury Duty resumes Wednesday so that will help get me back on track. I'm on a "Special Grand Jury" and we've been sitting since April 2011 and won't be released until 2014!! We meet two times a week unless we're not "scheduled" to meet. It's an exerience to say the least!!

Jury Duty? Do they pay you anything? I think I got $18 a day. Are you on a certain case or do you check in in case there is a trial?

It's crazy when the little things get taken away or diminished in some capacity, we can really feel it. I hope the rations end for you soon too. I've got a friend in Jersey who just got her power restored yesterday. And another who lost power again.

You're so lucky to be able to go every year. Do you go the same week every year? And I don't know what year WDW opened so you're not giving away your age. ​

Awesome updates! Love the food pics -- yum!

It was so good. I didn't take a ton that day but I've got more from our other F&W days.


I know, Disney is for kids too but really, F&W would have been better if it was just adults.​

My freak flag is flying high today. Michael is stringing the lights on the tree. The Jews are the first to have their tree up. ​

 

[melissac]

The THV are one of the best places we have stayed. We spent 10 days there and loved it. The only problem we had was the water never got nice and hot. It was warm but not hot like we like it. Did you use the jetted tub at all adif so did you have enough hot water?

 

[rentayenta]

The THV are one of the best places we have stayed. We spent 10 days there and loved it. The only problem we had was the water never got nice and hot. It was warm but not hot like we like it. Did you use the jetted tub at all adif so did you have enough hot water?

That was the only thing! The water never got super hot now that you mention it. We did use the tub and it got just a little more than luke warm at the end of filling it. We loved them too. I am so glad they are popular. SSR needed a little kick start it seemed. I'm so glad we bought there. Did you take the boat to DTD? That was so much fun. How did you find the transportation and the whole two bus thing?​

 

[Ms. WDW]

There was no option to answer with "quotes" so I made my own !

rentayenta asked - Jury Duty? Do they pay you anything? I think I got $18 a day. Are you on a certain case or do you check in in case there is a trial?

It's crazy when the little things get taken away or diminished in some capacity, we can really feel it. I hope the rations end for you soon too. I've got a friend in Jersey who just got her power restored yesterday. And another who lost power again.

You're so lucky to be able to go every year. Do you go the same week every year? And I don't know what year WDW opened so you're not giving away your age.

Reply - yes we do get paid; with transportation it's about $60 a day. We come in when there are cases to present and so far this year it's been very busy. We have to show probable cause; then it goes to trial. So we can see anywhere from 1 to 5 cases in a day.

NJ is still a mess in certain areas and my friend in Budd Lake just got power back after 13 days!!!

I try to go around the same time each October but there's nothing that says I can't change. I'd love to try and go sometime in November or early December just to see the Holiday decorations. Now that would be cool!!

I'm so happy you love the THV. I love SSR and never quite understood why it got such a bad rap all the time. If I ever bring my brother and family again I'll see about staying at the THV's. The kids would love the bunk beds!!!

 

[PrincessInOz]

As mentioned.

I took these with you in mind.


I got to Fisherman's Wharf using the 47 bus from the Caltrain station. It drove right by the Marriott so I got off to snag this shot.

If you then face the main drag of the Wharf from where I was standing, this is the walking distance to that street.

You can see the f-line tram stop in the picture. I'm pretty sure that is the last stop on the f-line.



I also drove past the O Co...(the one at the back)

Judging from the stadiums, I guess the BART station is closer towards the O Co than the Oracle arena. I looked but couldn't see the station from the freeway.

We were driving in traffic that was at the tail end of a game. It was pretty busy and I suspect we missed the worst of the traffic.

Heading towards Oakland.

Jack London Square in Oakland seemed nice. The sunset was gorgeous that day.

And the AmTrak runs dead bang in the centre of the street/square.

Oakland turned out to be much nicer than I remembered it. Seems like it's been cleaned up quite a bit.


Hope these help!

 

[Uncle Remus]

My freak flag is flying high today. Michael is stringing the lights on the tree. The Jews are the first to have their tree up. ​

Love it!!

We atheists are putting up our Christmas decorations this weekend.

 

[rentayenta]

Before I post this update, I’ll warn you I am a Main St Electrical Parade junkie. I grew up going to Disneyland weekly and some of my most magical memories surround the MSEP. We have missed it for the past few years because we were always on the wrong coast. But not this trip. I was determined to see it and even though we were only on night two, I knew I wanted to get it on the books. You never know whats going to happen with Orlando weather and there’s always a chance for fireworks and parades to get canceled so I try to do them at the beginning of the trip. Oh yeah, I am a fireworks junkie too. I am such a sucker. If it glitters and has some sort of Disney music, I’m in.

The plan was to go to MK for EMH. I knew the MSEP was playing tonight but didn’t realize that we were heading back just in time to catch it. Talk about pixie dust. I believe we left the THV at almost 7 pm and made to MK about 15 minutes before the parade was starting. As my family walked in and started heading down Main St I asked if anyone wanted to watch the parade with me. Of course the girls rolled their eyes and Michael pretended he couldn’t hear me. But my sweet sweet Joshua said he’d love to watch it with me. Love him. I love them all but he’s by far the most accommodating when it comes to stuff like this. His love of Disney mimics mine in terms of experiences vs riding as many rides as possible. At least I raised him right.

Hand to G-d, I’ve told DH and the kids that when I die I want a clip of the MSEP music in the awesome slide show they’re going to make of my life.

The others headed on their way and as I lost sight of them realized we had no money or media or cc. We had a bottle of water and a 1/4 bag of trail mix left over in the camera bag. We had just eaten but I always like to have access to or food with me even at home. Now I didn’t grow up poor or hungry so I have no idea where this insecure food thing comes from....and I’m a therapist. I’m sure it has to do with also not enjoying suspenseful movies. I always like to be as prepared as I can. Okay, enough with the Dr. Phil and on with the pics.

I took some with my iPhone which I’ll post first so these will be out of order. I had a major bout with food poisoning last night so I’m laying in bed right now, dehydrated, and a little loopy so trying to post the pics in order might be too much for my feeble brain. Are you ready to be inundated with MSEP pics? Remember iPhone pics are first. There is a distinct difference in quality.

We had to take some self portraits while we waited. You know it was warm as I was still in a tank top and I’m always cold:

Joshua:

A little decor:

And now THE PARADE:

continued in the next post.....​