May 10, 2008 Ship of Thieves! Stealing the Magic..AGAIN!!! Panama Canal FL to CA!!! Part 9

[disneylover5]

Most all of my family is down either in the swimming pool or in the hot tub so I thought I would post an update.

Where we last left off, I had gone to bed on Friday night about 1:00 AM. I set the alarm for 9:00 so I could get a good night sleep before having to move hotels and pick everyone up.

Once I was up and showered, I had a nice light breakfast in my room and finished packing. Talked to my DH and DD Samantha who were up and getting ready to go to the airport. I reminded my DH to get to the airport at least 2 hours early. Famous last words!!

DD Jen and her family arrived at the airport 2 1/2 hours early, sailed through baggage checkin in 35 minutes and breezed through security in 10 minutes and were at the gate.

Here is where everything went wrong for DH. DD had dropped him off only one hour early for the flight and by that point the baggage line was over 2 hours long. I was glabbergasted at his noncholance in thinking he was going to make the flight. He was still in the baggage line as were 20 others on his flight when the flight took off for Orlando!!

Needless to say, I called Southwest and even the flight he could have gone stand by on had left. DD Samantha was at SFO with the house keys and the burglar alarm in the house was one. I made a split second decision to get him on the next flight from ANY nearby airport. One seat was left on the next day from SFO at 11:10, so I grabbed the seat.

I next called the Marriott at the SFO airport and got him a room. DH checked with Information and was told that at 2:30 he could take the Monterrey airporter to SFO and then he could catch the shuttle to Marriott.

By this point, DH was realizing I was beyond upset that all he had to do is go to the airport and he had messed up big time!! He had our DVD players with us so the kids were not able to watch movies on the flight.

DD Samantha sailed through security and baggage, however her flight that was scheduled for 1:14PM did not take off until 3:59 PM so she just sat around the airport talking on her phone and typing on her computer.

As for me, I checked out at about 1:00 PM so I could do some shopping for groceries for my DD and her family to put in the condo. Luckily, I was able to check into the Dolphin by 3:00PM though I didn't unpack, just dropped off the bags.

Next, I headed back to International Drive and my DD's condo. I was able to check into her condo, get her keys and unload the groceries I had bought for breakfast etc. I also dropped off the $10 tree for them to assemble. Afterward, I made myself some taboleuh for dinner and watched tv until time to head toward the airport at 11:00 since both flights were running late and were not schedule to arrive until 11:30 PM.

DH calls from the shuttle and when he arrives at the hotel. He is very contrite. Maybe next time he will listen to me and not have selective hearing!! He hits happy hour and decides he is going to bed early so he can get to the airport on time!! Better happen or else!!

I go to airport and sat waiting for about 10 minutes in the cell lot until I got my first call from Samantha at 11:40 PM. I only had to circle twice for her as her bags came pretty quickly.

Now here comes the next debacle. I get a call about 11:44 PM from DD Jen and crew that they are at baggage claim and to come get them. Of course, another terminal from DD Samantha and this one has a really, really long line to get in. We finally get up to gate 14 where everyone has their bags except SIL Pete. His bag which has ALL of his clothes is missing. We wait about another 15 minutes and no luck. Pete goes to the baggage counter and they discover that the bag was taken off at first stop Burbank. Right BUR looks just MCO. You wouldn't believe how many bags on the carousel were destined for other airports!! Southwest promises to deliver bag to the condo by 3:00 PM.

At this point, it is about 1:00 AM, everyone is starving!! No meal service on Southwest as you all probably know, so the goal is fast food. My DD Jen makes the funniest comment so far, "Oh, there is a 24 hour drive through, I wonder if it is open?" We all laugh hysterically and I pull into Mickey D's. DD Jen orders and of course everything is wrong when we get it but we take it anyway.

As we are driving away, she realizes that she didn't order any drinks so we stop at a Chevron mini mart for sodas and beer!! Finally, we arrive at the condo, unload and then Pete rides with me to the Dolphin as they are keeping the car.

Once in my room, I can't sleep so I unpack until about 3:00 AM, take a shower and fall asleep. More tomorrow.

Noel, Don;t you just hate men.....your DH sounds just like my DH and most likely most DH's!!

 

[disneylover5]

Lisa's Skins 22 Viks 0....top of the 3rd quarter. Lisa is happy. GO SKINS!!!

Lisa ia happy.....Skins look good, at least so far..

 

[disneylover5]

I am exhausted. Everything over the last 3 weeks has caught up with me. We had Christimas today with Don's brother and family and I cooked the Stanidng Rib Roast. It was very yummy.....thank you Lisa very much.

I feel like I have been kicked in the head, I am so tired. I want to try and watch the whole football game.

 

[pjpoohbear]

OOOOhhhhhh Celebrity Apprentice starting Jan 3rd....they're doing it for charity. I admit I'm a reality junkie. I watch most of them. I'll watch this.

I don't know that I could watch another show with Omarosa. She has no clue that she rubs people the wrong way all the time.

Although I have watched several other editions, but the tasks are so far removed from Trumps business that it gets a bit annoying.

I can't wait for BB to start though, that is a guilty tv pleasure.

Pj

 

[pjpoohbear]

NOEL!

What a way to begin a vacation/xmas get away. Bet your DH listens to you the next time you say get to the airport with lots of time.

Pj

 

[HollyTyler]

Noel, Don;t you just hate men.....your DH sounds just like my DH and most likely most DH's!!

Sounds like most MEN in general! Except, of course, the men who post here!

 

[HollyTyler]

I am exhausted. Everything over the last 3 weeks has caught up with me. We had Christimas today with Don's brother and family and I cooked the Stanidng Rib Roast. It was very yummy.....thank you Lisa very much.

I feel like I have been kicked in the head, I am so tired. I want to try and watch the whole football game.

Lisa, you'd better try to get some rest! You still have lots of holiday left and can't let yourself crash from exhaustion.

 

[Tigger1221]

Game over....giants win 38-21. YEAH! And I got to watch it! YEAH!

It's raining like the devil over here. And we have a weather dog. She's covered in wet muddy sand right now and looks like a big rat. We have a doggy door and a pen. The bottom of her pen is all sand. She's been playing outside in her pen in the rain.

Gandalf used to lay out there in the snow. We would be having a blizzard and he stayed out there sleeping. He once came into the house and all you could see was his eyes.....he was coated in snow. I think we have a picture of it. I'll check with John and if we have it I'll post it.

Ella is going after Mickey (turtle) right now. Mickey is going after Minnie (turtle) right now. Ella is standing on top of the tank with her two front paws nose to nose with them. Mickey and Minnie just jumpted off their sunning spot back into the water. Ella loves when they come out of the water and move around.

Yes, Deborah, it's a crazy animal house around here and yes, Holly, I never get bored. Somebody is always doing something, probably something they shouldn't be doing.

How cute!!! Do you have a picture of the cat playing with the turtles?

Yes, he was happy to open a few presents today. The present he got in the mail from my aunt is something he already has, so he was a bit sad, but then he said, "Oh no! What do we tell her?" I told him not to worry, He's never even met her because she lives a couple hours away and doesn't allow visitors because she has a skin condition and she's embarrassed by how it looks (scleroderma). Long story, but we stay in contact by e-mail. Well, I took him to see her only once, when he was a few months old, and she nicely told me she prefers not to have visitors. Strange, but it's fine....we make it work by e-mail. Anyway, I told him we'd be able to exchange it without bothering her about it being a duplicate. Toys R Us is good about that even without a receipt as long as it's something they sell.

Then he got to open the 3 small gifts I got for him. He was pretty happy. He put his Sparty ornament on our tree right away, he put his new Spiderman shoes on, and took his craft supplies into his room and came out with a card he made me and told me he made it because I'm "the best mom in the world". I told him I love it so much because he's the best kid in the world!

Then he said, "Would you like to open your present from me?" He bought me a harmonica. Too funny! The reason he bought that is because he wanted the box it came in to put his own harmonica in!

I hope you toys r us is better than ours. THey have a no receipt no return policy! Of coarse Target is doing that now too! I hate not being able to return things for store credit even,

 

[EllaEnchanted]

I don't know that I could watch another show with Omarosa. She has no clue that she rubs people the wrong way all the time.

Although I have watched several other editions, but the tasks are so far removed from Trumps business that it gets a bit annoying.

I can't wait for BB to start though, that is a guilty tv pleasure.

Pj

Omarosa or not, I'm still watching Trump.

I wonder if BB is going to do the Showtime feed live like they did this summer. If so, I've got a lot of TV to be watching. I never recorded it, I just watched it when I could. Sometimes it was boring, but most times it was great TV.

 

[HollyTyler]

If anybody needs more Christmas ideas, here's something a co-worker did when her daugher was about 6 or 7: She used an old pair of workboots, put flour on a cookie sheet, put the boots in the flour and made white boot tracks in their house (they had hardwood floors). But it didn't have the effect she'd expected. Her daugher saw the boot prints and was really mad at the mess he'd left and asked her mom, "Is Santa going to come back and clean this mess?!" But it still sounds cute and I think I'll do that next year. This year I'm going to move all our Christmas stuffed guys that play music, etc. near the tree, facing the presents, so it will look like they were watching Santa put the presents there.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

How cute!!! Do you have a picture of the cat playing with the turtles?

Hi Jill....no I don't have a pic of it....I guess I could keep the camera ready and try to sneak one when she's doing it. I'll try. That would be a cute picture.

 

[Tigger1221]

I doubt I will have time to post again before christmas. I work tomarrow 7-3:30. church at 5, then mom's for petros and banana's Foster, then open 1 present. Then Christmas day we open our gifts to each other, go to my moms for breakfast and lunch, open gifts there, then DH's familys, the my sisters, then back to my moms. It is a very busy day!

 

[HollyTyler]

I doubt I will have time to post again before christmas. I work tomarrow 7-3:30. church at 5, then mom's for petros and banana's Foster, then open 1 present. Then Christmas day we open our gifts to each other, go to my moms for breakfast and lunch, open gifts there, then DH's familys, the my sisters, then back to my moms. It is a very busy day!

Have a great time! Merry Christmas!

 

[HollyTyler]

Well, I guess I'm out of here too......for now. Have to get the presents under the tree, go eat some cookies, and head to bed. Seems too early for me to go to bed, but I suppose I should so I can get up early with Tyler tomorrow because you know he'll be up when it's WAY too dark still!

 

[EllaEnchanted]

If anybody needs more Christmas ideas, here's something a co-worker did when her daugher was about 6 or 7: She used an old pair of workboots, put flour on a cookie sheet, put the boots in the flour and made white boot tracks in their house (they had hardwood floors). But it didn't have the effect she'd expected. Her daugher saw the boot prints and was really mad at the mess he'd left and asked her mom, "Is Santa going to come back and clean this mess?!" But it still sounds cute and I think I'll do that next year. This year I'm going to move all our Christmas stuffed guys that play music, etc. near the tree, facing the presents, so it will look like they were watching Santa put the presents there.

Such a great idea.....both of them. I remember writing a note from Santa to the boys every year. Sandi ate the cookies and I bit the carrots. Santa said that Rudolf burped when he ate the carrots. The boys loved that. Then we would put them to bed at mom's house and just at midnight we would ring mom's christmas bells and stomp on the floor as Sandi was waking them up screaming that Santa was there. They believed us. Then after opening presents at mom's house we would go back home and open more. One year some deer jumped out in front of the car (happens all the time up here) and ran across the street. Kris swore that it was Santa's and that he saw him. I love those memories.

 

[HollyTyler]

OH! Have to go make sure the reindeer ate the magic oatmeal too!

 

[EllaEnchanted]

I doubt I will have time to post again before christmas. I work tomarrow 7-3:30. church at 5, then mom's for petros and banana's Foster, then open 1 present. Then Christmas day we open our gifts to each other, go to my moms for breakfast and lunch, open gifts there, then DH's familys, the my sisters, then back to my moms. It is a very busy day!

Hope you get everything you want....have a very merry happy and safe Christmas!

 

[LisaG520]

LisaG....PA doesn't look like that anymore. It's been years. Now we get ice or nothing. Not pretty like the snow.

Our friends live in Montrose, on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere and they actually get a lot of snow still. (It's almost in NY) If we ever win the lottery that will be where we live - no jobs to be had in the area for us or we'd live there now.

My IL's get all the ice now too instead of the big snows - in Milton.

Tyler goes to his dad's just before bedtime Christmas eve this year (we alternate), so Santa comes tonight to our house. Santa knows Tyler's arrangement and always comes to each house when he's at each house. But this will probably be the last year for that because Tyler's too smart for me to keep that up. He told me tonight, "If Santa's bringing presents to everybody else tomorrow night, he'll have a really small bag when he comes here tonight." So I told him, "No, not really because there are tons of other kids who have the same arrangement that you do, so his sleigh is probably pretty full tonight." And then I told him that maybe I'll talk to Santa next year and ask if he can just start delivering to both homes on the same night, then when Tyler gets home from whatever house he's at on Christmas morning, he'll see all the presents Santa left at the other house and get to do it ALL OVER AGAIN on the same day! He liked that idea, so that's what we'll probably do next time.

My mom and maybe my aunt are coming tomorrow, but my mom now has to work until 4 (if not later), so the earliest she'll get here is 5:30. My aunt might have to work until 5:30, but she won't know for sure until tomorrow afternoon, so if she's not able to leave when my mom does, it will be just my mom. So Tyler and I will have plenty of time to make cookies during the day.

Christmas day I have to drive out of town about an hour and a half) to my dad's with him, my stepmom, stepsister & husband and 2 boys, stepbrother & wife and daughter. Then I drive back home and pick Tyler up maybe around 4 or 5.

My sister and BIL only have a year or 2 before Lila catches on too. BIL is a firefighter so the years he is on shift for Christmas they have Christmas a day early. So Santa delivers to firefighter's houses a day early too!

OOOOhhhhhh Celebrity Apprentice starting Jan 3rd....they're doing it for charity. I admit I'm a reality junkie. I watch most of them. I'll watch this.

We'll be watching too.

 

[HollyTyler]

Such a great idea.....both of them. I remember writing a note from Santa to the boys every year. Sandi ate the cookies and I bit the carrots. Santa said that Rudolf burped when he ate the carrots. The boys loved that. Then we would put them to bed at mom's house and just at midnight we would ring mom's christmas bells and stomp on the floor as Sandi was waking them up screaming that Santa was there. They believed us. Then after opening presents at mom's house we would go back home and open more. One year some deer jumped out in front of the car (happens all the time up here) and ran across the street. Kris swore that it was Santa's and that he saw him. I love those memories.

Very cute! But not the getting up at midnight part. But I do plan on jingling the bells we were given on our Polar Express train ride on my way to bed, just to see if he hears it and mentions it in the morning. Especially since the reason he woke up so early this morning is because he heard our windchimes outside and thought it was Santa's sleighbells!

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Well, I guess I'm out of here too......for now. Have to get the presents under the tree, go eat some cookies, and head to bed. Seems too early for me to go to bed, but I suppose I should so I can get up early with Tyler tomorrow because you know he'll be up when it's WAY too dark still!

That's exactly why my mom started the tradition of opening presents at midnight on Christmas eve. She wanted to sleep late on Christmas morning. That's what she always said. I'm so used to doing it at night with the tree all lit up and usually snow outside. It's going to be weird doing it during the daytime this year.

GoodNight Holly.....sweet Santa dreams!