Looking for Control Freaks & Worry Warts - Part 4!!!

[Lovin Life]

TGIF!!! I am also leaving at 4 today! I'm giddy! I've been working 8-5 for the summer, but will probably go back to 8:30-5:30 when school starts because I'll have to drop Tay at school at 7:45. I will get here by the skin of my teeth. Meg may be able to take the bus, or I will drop her along the way, and get to work right at 8:30. Leaving at 5 has made the evenings much more enjoyable. I get home about 5:45 instead of 6:15, if I come straight home. The company is moving to a mobile, work from home mentality, but my group just can't wrap their heads around the idea that assistants can do that. I know that a lot of "us" do. I'm working on it...at least some of the time would be nice. One of my groups will be mobile, and one has signed on to work from here. We'll see how that goes.

Kara - Sorry about your not-perfect bday experience, but yippee about the new clubs! (Although they don't sound as FUN as the old ones! It sounds like they made golf more interesting!) I know what you mean about cleaning before the cleaning lady gets there. Twice/month, we frantically go around on Monday night and Tuesday AM, picking up before she gets there. Working full time, w/a 45 minute drive, that is one thing I will not cut back on, unless we absolutely have to. I feel I do enough. Don't even get me started...In my next life, I am going to be born a man (esp Darrin)! I had one of those nights that I felt like I carry a lot of the family responsbility on my shoulders, and I barked about it! I do, do, do, then get mad at myself. I know a lot of it is my fault, and I need to do more for myself (take up golf or fishing?). I've gotten off on a tangent...

Jillian - Bigger and better...Now that's the spirit! I need to give up coffee, but it keeps me going. It's my drug of choice. I found a good iced coffee recipe on one of the Starbucks coffee bags, one kind that starts w/a T and I was told is good for iced coffee. We made it a lot last summer, and kept it in the fridge, but that kind of fizzled out. It's not hard to make at all. I remember that the secret is to brew it double strong, then add water, not just brew coffee and pour over ice.

Tammie - I didn't think it got that hot by you! I keep thinking I am going to put my out of town friends' zip codes into the weather app on my iTouch, so I can peek at everyone's weather occasionally. I watch my Grandma in Chicago's like that, so I know Debbie's. Are you working out to get ready for your VBS and the big hike/climb next week??

 

[karajeboo]

I've been lurking around this thread for a couple of weeks. Today, I think I have to finally admit I'm a Control freak at least if not also a worry wart.
My poor TA, I can picture her on her phone right now trying to make my much desired ADR's, when ......I already made them.

I asked her a few weeks ago if she could make them for me as there was no toll free number to call, and all I could picture was me being on the phone with them for a LONG time, racking up the long distance charges. She told me to send her my list and she would work on it.
Well my ADR window opened today and I got up this morning thinking, I never got confirmation from her as to weather or not she received my list.
So I got online to try the online reservations. It wouldn't accept my reservation number to link the ADR with my package. I tried the ADR's without the linking and it would only let me book for the first day only of our trip (which is 90 days from today). So I ended up on the phone with Disney Dining. Had a really great CM on the other end who helped me with all my ADR's. All are great except one (Le Cellier), but I'll keep tyring online hoping a time opens that is more preferrable.
In the meantime, I haven't been able to reach my TA, so I truly hope she isn't working really hard at trying to get me my reservations because then I'd feel bad that the control freak in my jumped out. BUT on the other hand, if she's NOT working on my ADR's THis morning, them I'm GLAD the control freak jumped out.
Whew, now I got that off my chest, I feel much better!

Welcome to our happy little thread! I think did the right thing by making your ADRs yourself! I never trust anyone else to do it for me. So tell us all about your upcoming trip and the plans you have made? Where r u staying? ADRs? We love to hear all about that !!!

TGIF!!! I am also leaving at 4 today! I'm giddy! I've been working 8-5 for the summer, but will probably go back to 8:30-5:30 when school starts because I'll have to drop Tay at school at 7:45. I will get here by the skin of my teeth. Meg may be able to take the bus, or I will drop her along the way, and get to work right at 8:30. Leaving at 5 has made the evenings much more enjoyable. I get home about 5:45 instead of 6:15, if I come straight home. The company is moving to a mobile, work from home mentality, but my group just can't wrap their heads around the idea that assistants can do that. I know that a lot of "us" do. I'm working on it...at least some of the time would be nice. One of my groups will be mobile, and one has signed on to work from here. We'll see how that goes.

Kara - Sorry about your not-perfect bday experience, but yippee about the new clubs! (Although they don't sound as FUN as the old ones! It sounds like they made golf more interesting!) I know what you mean about cleaning before the cleaning lady gets there. Twice/month, we frantically go around on Monday night and Tuesday AM, picking up before she gets there. Working full time, w/a 45 minute drive, that is one thing I will not cut back on, unless we absolutely have to. I feel I do enough. Don't even get me started...In my next life, I am going to be born a man (esp Darrin)! I had one of those nights that I felt like I carry a lot of the family responsbility on my shoulders, and I barked about it! I do, do, do, then get mad at myself. I know a lot of it is my fault, and I need to do more for myself (take up golf or fishing?). I've gotten off on a tangent...

Jillian - Bigger and better...Now that's the spirit! I need to give up coffee, but it keeps me going. It's my drug of choice. I found a good iced coffee recipe on one of the Starbucks coffee bags, one kind that starts w/a T and I was told is good for iced coffee. We made it a lot last summer, and kept it in the fridge, but that kind of fizzled out. It's not hard to make at all. I remember that the secret is to brew it double strong, then add water, not just brew coffee and pour over ice.

Tammie - I didn't think it got that hot by you! I keep thinking I am going to put my out of town friends' zip codes into the weather app on my iTouch, so I can peek at everyone's weather occasionally. I watch my Grandma in Chicago's like that, so I know Debbie's. Are you working out to get ready for your VBS and the big hike/climb next week??

Pam - at my last job, I rearranged my schedule so I could pick Ally up from school 3 days a week. I got to work at 7am every day, then left at 2 Wed-Fri, and I didn't take lunch those three days. It was soooo stressful though! I felt guilty leaving, but I didn't have a choice. That's when we had the big problems with Ally's daycare after school, so I was stuck. Jeff picked her up one day and took her to his p's, and MIL picked her up one day. But it seemed that every time I left early, I would get calls on my cell about something gone wrong at work. I handled all HR, as well as the phones, so either we'd have an employee issue, or a storm would knock out our phones and I was the only one who knew how to bring them back up. I was glad when I got back on a regular schedule.

And I know how you feel about doing so much at home. There is no way that Jeff can ever understand. If he spends 30 minutes working in the yard, apparently that makes up for the 30 HOURS I spend on laundry, cleaning, running Ally all over town, paying bills, etc, etc...... It scares the daylights out of me to think what would happen if I wasn't here. Not being a martyr, just a realist. I told him he would have to hire a full-time nanny. Seriously.

 

[tjbaggott]

Our upcoming trip is a Land and Sea vacation, it will be our 2nd trip to WDW and is to be an END OF CHEMO CELEBRATION TRIP for my DD who just turned 18!
We did this exact same trip 3 years ago, it was her WISH trip through The Children's Wish Foundation.
She finished treatment in June 2007 but had a rotten first year OFF treatment, so last fall, I thought, she needs a trip like this, we all do to finally celebrate end of treatment, end of mega worries, and end of other post treatment realeated issues. I was impressed how the ADR CM asked me what are we celebrating and once told, she said she will indicate on our ADR forms that we are celebrating a "Personal Triumph". I don't know what difference it makes to have anyone else there know what we are celebrating or not, but if it adds some Pixie Dust, then I'm all for it!
We are DRIVING down from Canada for this trip, eeeeek! That should be interesting. We are a family of 6, DH and myself, DD18, DS16, DS12 and DS6.
A two day drive we are splitting over 3 days and checking into the CBR on October 29th. Our ADR'S:
Oct.29th - Le Cellier 2:45 (hoping to have that changed)
Oct.30th - Sci FI 6:25
Oct.31st - Liberty Tree Tavern 5:20
Nov.1st - Chef Mickey's 7:30 AM (should be interesting getting there at that time since we'll be in MK till midnight the night before!)

After breakfast at Chef Mickey's we'll be heading to Port Canaveral, hopefully arriving when the port opens. I want to hang out in the terminal for a change. (Previous trip, we arrived at port and boarded right away, so never got photos in the terminal or character time, or see or even remember all that was there).
Once we disembark on Nov. 5th, we will head to Animal Kingdom to spend the day, then that evening, start the long trek home, perhaps stopping for the night around the FL/Georgia border? (forgive my Geography if thats not correct, I'm Canadian)
AND to prevent any post WDW/Cruise Depression, I've already started planning a week long visit to WDW for the end of next summer for just me and my two youngest boys!
Thats it in a nutshell!
Judy

 

[Lovin Life]

Welcome, Judy! Your trip sounds wonderful, and I don't blame you either for making your own ADRs! I'd do the same. You wouldn't want to miss out on your special trip! That is such an awesome thing to celebrate!!!


I just peeked in quickly. TTEL!

 

[karajeboo]

Judy - that IS a personal triumph - yea for your daughter!!!! Sounds like you all need this trip. So very excited for you! Please stick around and post your plans!

We are in the early stages of planning a DCL cruise in 2010 - probably end of summer, so we can get "hurricane rates." We live in FL so only a 2 hr drive to the port here.

That sounds like a LOOOOOONG drive for you! I can help you with some good stops along I-95 in GA and northern FL, even up to Charleston in SC. We used to live in SC so we make the drive a lot. I can let you good/bad areas to stop at.

 

[ShellyShellfish]

I think I found a thread with people I can relate to...

I'm driving my DH bonkers. We went to WDW in January with our then 15 month old son. We had an absolute blast and I was in trip planning heaven. Not to mention our little guy loved the trip even more than we had hoped for.

So I was able to convince DH that we should make it an every other year trip. (Eventually I will push for annual, but I must take baby steps with him....make him think it's his own idea.) Anyways, I also said, we should start doing it in October instead, as my birthday and my sons birthday are a week apart, and we have a new arrival (a girl! yay!) coming within days of both of our birthdays...not to mention the historical perks of free dining, etc. So 3 out of 4 of us will celebrate within a week of each other. Makes perfect sense to me. Anyway...he consented, said it makes sense to him as well.

So now that I've got him pinned down to a October 2010 trip, I've already started planning, looking into things, etc. I haven't gotten to the point of making a spreadsheet yet, but that will be coming.

I've already driven him crazy with all my talking about it and anytime I approach him regarding this trip that is 14 months away (not to mention the fact that our 2nd isn't even BORN yet) he asks "is this about Disney?" And if I say yes, he'll just roll his eyes and half listen to me.

I think I'm out of control. Hi - my name is Michelle, and I'm an addict.

 

[karajeboo]

Hi Michelle! We all feel your pain! We are all exactly the same way!!!

And congrats on the upcoming addition to your family!

In my opinion, its never too early to start planning, right? But I've found that I just plan what I want, and my DH just goes along with it. We are fortunate enough to have just moved to FL two years ago, so we do 3 or 4 weekend trips a year. Our latest is planned for December, and I've already downloaded all the WDW apps I can find for my new iphone! I sit outside and check the wait times, just because I can!

So go ahead and plan all you want now, and wait to actually discuss with him once you get about 6 months out. That way, it will start to be more "real" for him then, and he'll start getting excited too!

Oh, and you can plan with us all you want! We love to help!

 

[DizzyErin]

I am looking at DLP for 2011? I am going to need your advice so I will be PMing you.

Ooh Jillian how exciting, this trip will be my third and have only done weekends but i will share anything i learn hhahhahaha

I'm shocked that people are getting ready to go back to school!

I'm not Tina we still have 5 weeks left woohoooo

I'm off for the evening to Amanda's school. They have their school musical tonite - Saturday Night Fever. And Amanda has the female lead! My nurse saw dress rehearsal and texted me a pic of Amanda from the big dance scene. She's wearing a strapless, sparkly dress! Soooo cute! God bless the staff at her school. She also told me the "Tony" character dips Amanda. Both kids are in wheelchairs. This should be interesting - and fun!

How fantastic, how did the show go Cammie? I bet Amanda wa sfabulous especially with the dips

OK - how about this weekend!? Ha, ha, ha, ha....

Anytime Pam

Erin - I wish I was going back to DLP - I loved it there - and we haven't been back since Crush opened. I am pining..... maybe next year..... thinking about going via Eurostar next time.

Yes we're really looking forward to our weekendand we totally love Crush!!! We are going by Eurostar this time, last time we did Eurotunnel which was good but think this will be even better

Hi Lydia, Erin, Lorrie (come back!), Jillian (hope you're healing fast), everyone else -
I'm getting sleepy - good night all!

Hi Tammie

Well girls I knew I shouldn't have said it. We got a flat tire today and so Mike said enough is enough and we are had to CANCEL the trip We have spent $1000 in less than 24 hours so that was half of our disney money. So I am going to book a hotel in NH for a weekend and take a few small day trips.

Oh Jillian i am so sad for you but like everyone has said get putting away those pennies and loose change and you'll soon be back there!

I've already driven him crazy with all my talking about it and anytime I approach him regarding this trip that is 14 months away (not to mention the fact that our 2nd isn't even BORN yet) he asks "is this about Disney?" And if I say yes, he'll just roll his eyes and half listen to me.

I think I'm out of control. Hi - my name is Michelle, and I'm an addict.

Welcome Michelle, believe me i did exactly the same thing, our trip is Feb 2010and i have been planning it for well over a year .. and my cousin's baby had only just been conceived i was booking our flights and he wasn't even here, in fact i didn't even know he was gonna be a he hahhaha
Anyway welcome

Hi everyone, i cannot believe how long it takes me to reply on my laptop, why is that grgrgrgrggr!!!! I tend to just lurk when i'm on it
So how is everyone good i hope??
All is good here except our sunshine has gone So more indoor things planned for us really, off to the pictures next week gonna go see Night at the museum 2, anybody seen it???

 

[Lovin Life]

Welcome, Michelle! There's nothing wrong w/early planning. IMO, it's better than the actual trip, because then it's close to being over! I drive my hubby and my kiddos crazy w/WDW talk all of the time. October would be my favorite time to go, if the kids weren't in school. We're all addicts here....

Judy mentioned Chef Mickey's. We are going to skip breakfast in the castle w/the princesses this trip, much to my dismay . It was a family vote, and I was outvoted. We are thinking of Chef Mickey's or Ohana's. I am looking for comments/suggestions on those 2 character meals?

Kara - What WDW apps? I need to check that out!!

Hi, Erin! No help on Night at the Museum 2. It looks cute!! Enjoyed the first one (or what I saw of it - fell asleep, as I often do in movies). Have fun!!

Ready for the weekend...

 

[karajeboo]

Pam, I downloaded WDW Wait Times, WDW Times Guide and Mouse Memos. All three really good!!!!

 

[tjbaggott]

Welcome, Michelle! There's nothing wrong w/early planning. IMO, it's better than the actual trip, because then it's close to being over! I drive my hubby and my kiddos crazy w/WDW talk all of the time. October would be my favorite time to go, if the kids weren't in school. We're all addicts here....

Judy mentioned Chef Mickey's. We are going to skip breakfast in the castle w/the princesses this trip, much to my dismay . It was a family vote, and I was outvoted. We are thinking of Chef Mickey's or Ohana's. I am looking for comments/suggestions on those 2 character meals?

Kara - What WDW apps? I need to check that out!!

Hi, Erin! No help on Night at the Museum 2. It looks cute!! Enjoyed the first one (or what I saw of it - fell asleep, as I often do in movies). Have fun!!

Ready for the weekend...

We've never been to Chef Mickey's before, but I've seen too many good videos of it on Youtube, it looks like a TON of fun! And it will be our First ever Character meal. Does anyone know if there are characters out that early in the morning there? (7:30 am).

 

[DizzyErin]

We've never been to Chef Mickey's before, but I've seen too many good videos of it on Youtube, it looks like a TON of fun! And it will be our First ever Character meal. Does anyone know if there are characters out that early in the morning there? (7:30 am).

Hi Judy welcome
We did Chef Mickey's for breakie last yr for the first time and we looved it so much we are doing it next year when we go ... the kids absolutely loved it last time, so i really recommend it, we weren't there early so not sure on that question but i would think the answer would be yes

 

[ShellyShellfish]

thanks everyone for the warm welcome! It's so hard to really PLAN anything more than just conceptually at this point...who knows where we'll stay, what we'll want to eat, what the latest deals will be that are offered, etc.

All we know for sure is we're going the week before the little man turns 3 so that he's still free. I would LOVE if they continued the get in free on your birthday promo, so then I'd be covered one day, and we could actually spend DS's 3rd b-day at the park. Who wouldn't love that?!?!

I'm already freaking out about all the STUFF we'd have to bring (double stroller) and baby/toddler gear, etc. We'd be flying, as we have in the past, so we'll survive, but the amount of stuff seems crazy!

 

[soontobewed07]

Pam, I downloaded WDW Wait Times, WDW Times Guide and Mouse Memos. All three really good!!!!

Kara you need to download the WDW dining guide love it I also have all of the park maps which we used last year they have GPS not like I don't know where everything is, but Tabitha didn't so when she and my nephew went off they would take the phone and could find there way anywhere!

 

[TinaLala]

Welcome JUDY & MICHELLE!!!

Happy B'day Kara!

Hope everyone is having a GREAT Friday!

Just came back from the beach and I need a nap and a shower! Going to the mall tonight because DD7 is begging to get her ears pierced so I'm awaiting the screaming!! Darn I thought someone would have done my dishes while we were gone - where are those elves!?!

Oh, did I tell you a seagull pooped on me at the beach! My GF is all like "that's good luck, don't clean it off" ok. So I'll be buying a lottery ticket and crossing my fingers!

 

[CRdisMom]

Back from the lake. Willcatch up after the weekend.

 

[Lovin Life]

Pam, I downloaded WDW Wait Times, WDW Times Guide and Mouse Memos. All three really good!!!!

I guess they wouldn't work on the iTouch. Need to check that out. Wait times wouldn't, Jillian's GPS wouldn't. Wish I had an iPhone....

We've never been to Chef Mickey's before, but I've seen too many good videos of it on Youtube, it looks like a TON of fun! And it will be our First ever Character meal. Does anyone know if there are characters out that early in the morning there? (7:30 am).

I need to check out the You Tube videos. Thanks for the idea!

All we know for sure is we're going the week before the little man turns 3 so that he's still free. I would LOVE if they continued the get in free on your birthday promo, so then I'd be covered one day, and we could actually spend DS's 3rd b-day at the park. Who wouldn't love that?!?!

That sounds like a good plan! Since we buy the multi-day park tickets, we are going to opt for the free Fast Passes on my hubby's bday while there.

I'm already freaking out about all the STUFF we'd have to bring (double stroller) and baby/toddler gear, etc. We'd be flying, as we have in the past, so we'll survive, but the amount of stuff seems crazy!

I miss the days when mine were little, but not lugging around all of the gear, partly because I always forgot something! I still carry a huge backpack with jackets, rain ponchos, etc. I can't wait until school starts and they discount the backpacks! My current Pooh one is about on it's last leg.

Darn I thought someone would have done my dishes while we were gone - where are those elves!?!

They miss my house, too. Darn it.

Oh, did I tell you a seagull pooped on me at the beach! My GF is all like "that's good luck, don't clean it off" ok. So I'll be buying a lottery ticket and crossing my fingers!

Tina, that is just gross, but good luck!!: Wouldn't that be awesome!

Back from the lake. Willcatch up after the weekend.

Have a great weekend, Laura!


Enjoying a glass of wine while making (easy) dinner. Quiet evening w/out the girls. Darrin is picking Meg up from driver's ed, and we'll eat when they get home. Trying to decide if we'll see a dollar show tonight. Tay went to a friend's house for the weekend, back Sunday afternoon. Tomorrow is the last 2 hrs of driver's ed, driving time, band registration, then BTS shopping for Megan. We'll go out to eat tomorrow night. I was so tempted to tonight, but it's all part of my savings plan (ha!). I do use Passbook coupons quite a bit, and get coupons in the mail for some local restaurants that we like. I'm a coupon girl.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Hi Ladies! Quick flyby - I've been working so hard trying to figure out the twitter stuff that I haven't been on the DIS much at all.

Welcome Judy and Michelle! Sounds like you have great trips planned, and Judy so happy for your DD!

I'll be back later - had a glass of wine while we made a nice steak dinner with sauteed mushrooms, onions and peppers - used a cinnamon chile spice - tasted like Boma! Then we went for a long walk - Yes, Pam I'm gearing up! Now I'm sitting outside, but Jim took a shower, so I'd better get inside - Ha! Sounds like a REDNECK thing!

Have a great weekend everyone - I'll be back to catch up!

 

[ShellyShellfish]

Pam, I downloaded WDW Wait Times, WDW Times Guide and Mouse Memos. All three really good!!!!

Verizon needs to get their butts in gear and get some apps like this! I really hope the iphone becomes available on other carriers soon.

 

[ShellyShellfish]

I guess they wouldn't work on the iTouch. Need to check that out. Wait times wouldn't, Jillian's GPS wouldn't. Wish I had an iPhone....



I need to check out the You Tube videos. Thanks for the idea!



I miss the days when mine were little, but not lugging around all of the gear, partly because I always forgot something! I still carry a huge backpack with jackets, rain ponchos, etc. I can't wait until school starts and they discount the backpacks! My current Pooh one is about on it's last leg.



Tina, that is just gross, but good luck!!: Wouldn't that be awesome!



Have a great weekend, Laura!


Enjoying a glass of wine while making (easy) dinner. Quiet evening w/out the girls. Darrin is picking Meg up from driver's ed, and we'll eat when they get home. Trying to decide if we'll see a dollar show tonight. Tay went to a friend's house for the weekend, back Sunday afternoon. Tomorrow is the last 2 hrs of driver's ed, driving time, band registration, then BTS shopping for Megan. We'll go out to eat tomorrow night. I was so tempted to tonight, but it's all part of my savings plan (ha!). I do use Passbook coupons quite a bit, and get coupons in the mail for some local restaurants that we like. I'm a coupon girl.

Yes! When I saw the alternate list of "gifts" you can get on your birthday the fast passes caught my eye as well. I'd probably opt for those I suppose, since we too would be doing multi-day passes. I hadn't realized you could get in free when you have that pass.

Not that it will probably matter. With my luck it won't be extended into next year.