I loved your "fun" pictures on Catalina. One of those bad boys is checking out your friend's tushie. What a crazy looking french fry guy! I remember taking silly pictures like that with my friends way back when too. We never traveled anywhere fun. As a matter of fact, several of my GFs and I were supposed to take a trip to Colorado right after graduation which would have been a blast but we all chickened out because we couldn't bear being away from our boyfriends.

Looking back, it's highly likely that the BFs would have had a blast while were gone too. Anyway, it's funny that you had a child from the island take up with your group too. I suppose children are just curious about all the tourists that visit where they live all the time.
Yes, I do remember the parlor at the HC. I really loved that hotel but then I like anything that makes me think of the Victorian era. Our stay would have been in October. It was a very steep hill. That seems to be on par with where you build a house everywhere in California. (Do they have flat land anywhere?) I don't think I would have wanted to stayed at anything even further up the hill. I do not remember the name of the place we ate and I am not so inclined to dig up the pictures because it would be quite an undertaking. I do know that it was right there on the main street by the ocean.
Are you gonna be able to lift your Baggallini? That is a lot of stuff tucked away in there. I usually try to go with the bare minimum that I can pack in my cargo pockets. Of course, I have to leave myself open to tote all the souvenirs, etc. that DD passes to me by the end of the day. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that the temperature keeps dropping. You have mentioned all my favorite rides so now I am so wanting to be at DL! (I hope we like WDW just as much, otherwise, I will be wasting my vacation!) Anyway, don't forget if it is nice and hot to take advantage of Splash and GRR to help cool off. And, I definitely agree... you must eat some extra ice cream! If it were me I would save spending the gift card til your December trip since you like the Christmas decorations anyway and since it would take addtional time out of your already short and rushed trip. Also, the idea of renewing your AP in December sounds like a winner since it will be good to get you in the park all the way until the following December, and past the October festivities. Personally, I cannot imagine ever getting too much of DL but then I have never had the option to go more than once a year.
I am thinking that one of these days you really need to take one of those solo trips. I know you would miss having your friends there but, on the other hand, what if you tried it and loved it? Just think how much that would simplify your trip planning! If you could bring yourself to stay offsite, say the Hojos that everyone seems to love and which seems to have more budget friendly rates, maybe you could even find a way to get to DL more often which in turn would make your AP an even better value? Is cab fare from where you live crazy insane? Would it be any more than the cost of the ticket you would be giving away which could otherwise be applied to your AP? Imagine being able to come and go when you pleased, do exactly what you wanted and being able to apply all your tickets towards your AP.
oh yeah.... I tried to take a pic of our dog a few days ago without getting a decent shot so I made the decision that I have got to have a new camera before our trip. My birthday is on the 31st so I can use that as a good excuse. I have been shopping around online to find the best deal. Where did you find yours?