NMAmy's Trip Report with no catchy title--Last installment FINALLY posted - 4/12/09

[NMAmy]

Hopefully that luggage will last (unless Cait goes away to college, then you are toast).

Ah, Hedy, you're exactly right. I'm hoping this luggage will be too un-cool to go to college.

Hey, don't be sorry!

I just like to give feedback!

This would've given me a heartattack for sure!

Luckily, the hotel was IN the airport and right next to the check in area. Hopefully, she won't give me a heart attack in February. She and Jen almost missed their flight last year.

 

[MickeysMommy]

 

[NMAmy]

Hi, pal!

Not too much going on here. I'm home sick today--nothing serious just annoying basically.

I did talk to Caitlin and Jen last night. Between school and her job, Cait and I have spent the last week talking to each other's voice mail. I left her a message on Tuesday night and said, "Hello, you may not remember me, but this is your long lost mother. You can call me Mom. If you'd like to chat and get to know each other, please call me at (my phone number)."

Yesterday at work, I missed a call from Caitlin. This was the message on my voicemail, "Some lady called me from this number claiming to be my mother. Please don't call me again or I'll be forced to notify the police."

I finally caught up with her and Jen--they were getting pedicures. One of my best friends was at the shop so I chatted with her for a minute, too. Can you tell they live in a small town?

Cait received the ME vouchers and all her flight info. She is once again focused on the washer/dryer. She did ask for some money because apparently none of her shorts fit anymore. Since I can't actually verify that, I'll send her some money. Hopefully, it will be warm enough to actually wear shorts. Heck, it's snowing here again today so I'll be good with just no more white precipitation.

 

[Maleficent13]

She did ask for some money because apparently none of her shorts fit anymore. Since I can't actually verify that, I'll send her some money.

Um...I could be wrong...but didn't she use this ploy last year, as well? I seem to remember something like this.

Three ADRS?? I am so with you there! Who makes that many???

 

[NMAmy]

Um...I could be wrong...but didn't she use this ploy last year, as well? I seem to remember something like this.

Three ADRS?? I am so with you there! Who makes that many???

I know you are the queen of no ADR's, pal.

And, yes, Caitlin uses that ploy EVERY year. She's been the same size for a few years now and yet still seems to outgrow her stuff. It's hard to believe but she actually seems to be getting even skinnier now. I'm not sure how she's doing that, she eats like a horse.

 

[AussieAngel]

Yayyyyyyy, I finally found your pre-trip report!!!

First of all, I can't believe Caitlin is 18!!!! When did that happen?! I'm sure she was 14 last year. Hehehee, okay, maybe not. In Australia, you can legally drink when you're 18. Lucky you're not in Australia or you might have to share those breakfast Corona's...

Second of all, I totally agree that Horatio is a weird name for a tv character. He doesn't even look like a Horatio. He looks more like a Greg.

Anyway, I really like the sound of your plans so far!! I've always fancied the Boardwalk area, so I'm interested to hear how you like it. And it sounds like you have some yummy restaurants planned!

I wonder if Jen still has blonde hair!?

I'm so glad you're going back again! You're such a whizz at these trip reports! And you always seem to have such a great time. Such fun to read!!

Yahoooooooo!!!!

 

[Maleficent13]

I always wanted to name a son Horatio...the only character with any sense whatsoever in Hamlet.

Lucky for my DD, Horatio is not a gender neutral name.

 

[dddisrunner]

Hey Amy, I hope you are feeling better! I would be dealing with an ugly color suitcase for a great price too!

 

[NMAmy]

Yayyyyyyy, I finally found your pre-trip report!!!

I'm so glad you're here!

First of all, I can't believe Caitlin is 18!!!! When did that happen?! I'm sure she was 14 last year. Hehehee, okay, maybe not. In Australia, you can legally drink when you're 18. Lucky you're not in Australia or you might have to share those breakfast Corona's...

Ha, I can't believe it myself. We're actually hoping she'll come along to England with us this summer and Alex's niece and nephews are already planning on taking her to the pubs.

Second of all, I totally agree that Horatio is a weird name for a tv character. He doesn't even look like a Horatio. He looks more like a Greg.

When I asked Caitlin about the Horatio thing, she acted like it was a totally normal name. I think I'll just start referring to him as "Greg" and see what she does.

Anyway, I really like the sound of your plans so far!! I've always fancied the Boardwalk area, so I'm interested to hear how you like it. And it sounds like you have some yummy restaurants planned!

I wonder if Jen still has blonde hair!?

I'm very excited about the Boardwalk Villas. I'm obsessively looking at pictures online.

I'll ask Cait about Jen's hair for you. Caitlin actually had pink streaks in her hair at Christmas. It was some kind of a fundraiser for breast cancer. I think she's still getting it done because she really liked it. It's actually on a bottom layer of hair in the back so I didn't notice it for 2 days. I'm a totally unobservant mom.

Oh, I didn't tell you guys she has plans for a tattoo now, as well. I've tried to talk her out of it but she's 18 and earns her own money so there's not much I can do. She has promised to get it in an unobtrusive area--I think her foot, which sounds like it will hurt like heck.

I'm so glad you're going back again! You're such a whizz at these trip reports! And you always seem to have such a great time. Such fun to read!!

Yahoooooooo!!!!

You are always so sweet to me--I really appreciate it. Oh, and everyone should take a look at Aussie Angel's dining report. They had some good eats on their last trip!

 

[NMAmy]

I always wanted to name a son Horatio...the only character with any sense whatsoever in Hamlet.

Lucky for my DD, Horatio is not a gender neutral name.

I would expect nothing less from a woman who named her only daughter "Hepzibah." I do agree with you on the Hamlet thing. You could have named her Ophelia which is pretty but you run the risk of your child following in her namesake's footsteps and going crazy.

Kidding everyone--Hepzibah is Mal's daughter's code DIS name. And she's adorable--you should pm me a pic soon, Mal, I bet that child is getting big!

 

[NMAmy]

Hey Amy, I hope you are feeling better! I would be dealing with an ugly color suitcase for a great price too!

Thanks, Diane, I am feeling better! Same stuff as last year, unfortunately but at least I'm not contagious.

How is your great suitcase search coming along? I'm going to check in to your pre-TR and see what's new!


Hey, guys, not much going on here--I've gotten my ME stuff for All Star Sports. ( Every time I try to abbreviate it, I realize it's not DIS appropriate. ) I'm still working on tidying up the house--dusting and cleaning rooms we don't use very often. I'd start packing but have no idea what the weather will be like yet.

Speaking of weather, Cait called last night and asked me what the weather would be like. She seemed a bit annoyed when I told her I wouldn't have any idea for another couple of weeks. My child and my dog both seem to believe that I have complete control over the weather. Trust me, if I was in charge, I wouldn't be getting an inch of snow every darn day. It's too cold for it to melt so getting out of our driveway is getting to be more of an adventure every day! The piles of snow on each side are about 4 feet high.

We'll be having a heat wave tomorrow--the first time over 32 degrees in a couple of weeks. Woo hoo.

That's okay, though. Three weeks from today at this time, I should be all checked in at the Boardwalk Villas and trying to figure out what to have for dinner!

 

[NMAmy]

Well, I'm not usually the kind of person who changes things a lot. For example, once I move into a house and get the furniture is in place, it is unlikely that it will ever move again except to be pulled out for vacuuming or if we get some new furniture. I think it all over very carefully before committing and once I figure it out, it's set. I'm good. No need to be moving stuff around if it's perfect right now, you know?

And yet I find myself, for probably the first time ever, changing my trip plans around. I usually make the plans and stick with them. I don't call a zillion times for ADR's. I don't change hotels. I make a plan and stick with it. Until now, apparently. We had planned to arrive after midnight on a Friday. But the more I thought about it, the more I REALLY didn't want to do that. It just ruins the whole next day and I end up going to bed at an ungodly early hour. Even for me. Or else I'm crabby and no one wants to see that. So, I'm willing to admit that maybe a midnight flight arrival sounded better in theory a month ago than it does now that it's rapidly approaching.

Luckily, I have a friend who works for the airline that we're flying out on. I managed to rearrange my schedule at work on Friday to leave a little earlier. And now I have my friend checking to see if we can catch a 7:45 flight instead of the later one.

So keep your fingers crossed that we'll be able to get that flight changed. Who knows, if this works out, maybe I'll move some of my living room furniture around this weekend. Right after I reschedule our airport shuttle and the Magical Express. And maybe I'll call Disney Dining to see about that Monday 50's Prime Time Dinner ADR I didn't get last time. Maybe.

 

[dddisrunner]

My fingers are crossed!! I hope you can switch! We arrived at MCO last April at about 9:40 and by the time we got on Magical Express and got to the AKL which was the 3rd stop it was 11ish...NOT FUN! Hopefully you can get that early flight and be asleep by midnight!

 

[Hedy]

Well, I'm not usually the kind of person who changes things a lot. For example, once I move into a house and get the furniture is in place, it is unlikely that it will ever move again except to be pulled out for vacuuming or if we get some new furniture. I think it all over very carefully before committing and once I figure it out, it's set. I'm good. No need to be moving stuff around if it's perfect right now, you know?

And yet I find myself, for probably the first time ever, changing my trip plans around. I usually make the plans and stick with them. I don't call a zillion times for ADR's. I don't change hotels. I make a plan and stick with it. Until now, apparently. We had planned to arrive after midnight on a Friday. But the more I thought about it, the more I REALLY didn't want to do that. It just ruins the whole next day and I end up going to bed at an ungodly early hour. Even for me. Or else I'm crabby and no one wants to see that. So, I'm willing to admit that maybe a midnight flight arrival sounded better in theory a month ago than it does now that it's rapidly approaching.

Luckily, I have a friend who works for the airline that we're flying out on. I managed to rearrange my schedule at work on Friday to leave a little earlier. And now I have my friend checking to see if we can catch a 7:45 flight instead of the later one.

So keep your fingers crossed that we'll be able to get that flight changed. Who knows, if this works out, maybe I'll move some of my living room furniture around this weekend. Right after I reschedule our airport shuttle and the Magical Express. And maybe I'll call Disney Dining to see about that Monday 50's Prime Time Dinner ADR I didn't get last time. Maybe.

Good luck on the changes!

 

[AussieAngel]

I like the idea of that change!! You know what they say... a change is as good as a holiday! And you'll already be on holidays, so that makes it even better!

Your trip is coming up so quickly!! Yayyyy!!

 

[MickeysMommy]

 

[jen22984]

Just subscribing. Working on planning our first WDW trip for this fall.

 

[NMAmy]

My fingers are crossed!! I hope you can switch! We arrived at MCO last April at about 9:40 and by the time we got on Magical Express and got to the AKL which was the 3rd stop it was 11ish...NOT FUN! Hopefully you can get that early flight and be asleep by midnight!

Thanks, Diane! My friend is still working on it. There are only two seats left on the earlier flight but he seems optimistic. It would make me VERY happy if it works out!

Good luck on the changes!

I like the idea of that change!! You know what they say... a change is as good as a holiday! And you'll already be on holidays, so that makes it even better!

Your trip is coming up so quickly!! Yayyyy!!

Thanks, Diane, Hedy, and AussieAngel! My friend is still working on it. There are only two seats left on the earlier flight but he seems optimistic. It would make me VERY happy if it works out!

I know, I know, I'm a slacker but I'll explain why.

Just subscribing. Working on planning our first WDW trip for this fall.

Welcome, Jen! How exciting for you! Where are you staying?

 

[NMAmy]

Well, my apologies for abandoning this thread for so long. Seems like something ALWAYS happens just before we go on vacation, doesn't it? Everybody's health is good this year, so I'm thankful for that. However, there are rumors of layoffs at my work which would be awful but we could survive. Unfortunately, layoffs have also been announced at Alex's work, as well, which kind of threw me into a tailspin. I was feeling incredibly guilty about scheduling this trip. It's all paid for and we have savings and low debt but I was really freaking out.

The news was officially released last night. The odds are that he won't be laid off so we're going ahead as planned. We'll enjoy the trip as usual and when we come back, we'll be very frugal and save, save, save--just in case. So this will probably be our last hurrah until things are more stable.

On a happier note, I finally spoke with Caitlin last night. I was a little concerned--for the last week and a half, I've only gotten her voicemail. Now, usually, when Caitlin avoids speaking with me, it means she's doing something she doesn't want to tell me about. She knows if she talks to me on the phone, she can't NOT tell me, so she'll just avoid me.

I finally sent her a text on Wednesday and asked her to please respond so I'd know she was ok. I got this message back: "Sorry, Mommy. Really, really busy. I love you!"

Turns out that her job has been scheduling her for close to 40 hours per week. Along with her class load, she was really stressing out. She told me she went in to quit her job last night and they asked her to stay and promised to reduce her hours dramatically. So that's good news. Schoolwork first.

She was at a friend's house working on a school project. They had to rewrite The Rime of the Ancient Mariner as a new poem. Apparently, their teacher does not think Coleridge did a good enough job the first time. They read what they had so far and thought it was hilarious when I told them that their version sounded a bit Dr. Seuss-y.

Thanks all for sticking with me! I'll give some more updates over the weekend.

 

[MickeysMommy]