Operation Big Thunder: the Dole Whip Conspiracy COMPLETE

[jedijill]

Hillbilly Hotdogs was on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives. It looked great. I want to try the Homewrecker.

Jill in CO

 

[middlepat]

Finally caught up. Sorry for being late to the game, but I gotta hand it to you for once again providing a great narrative for your family's excursions.

Looking forward to the remainder of the report and now I'm jumping in. (late as usual)

Thanks, Brian. Let me know if you want to purchase the audio version (read by Gilbert Gottfried).

When in doubt, blame Barry.

Blaming Barry.
Oh there's a big surprise! That's an incredible - I think I'm going to have a heart attack and die of not surprise!

Remember the Civil War soldiers Scotty bought at the Patriots Point gift shop? He immediately went to work when we got back to the house and accurately re-staged the battle for Burnside’s Bridge at Antietam. 6 years old and already hopelessly nerdy, just like mom and dad.

As nerdy as you are I don't think that much nerdiness can be transferred within the 6 year window. Gotta call L-I-E on this one if only for Scotty's sake.

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

I agree. I think Geoffrey Rush was just as much fun as Johnny Depp in that movie, to be honest.

"What's in your head boy?”

Oh wait… I agree with that one. Rush did a marvelous job of being baaaaaaaad. Heck, he stole an entire scene without saying a word. Just an exasperated sigh, the sarcastic roll of the eyes, and a quick draw and firing of a flintlock pistole… perfectly evil. Remember the scene?

"Yes we know that one anything else?"



Well actually, there is one more thing: the declaring of the spot in this post where you told a big ol’ lie.

"Don't dare inpune me honor boy!”


Nothing was straightforward here (by design). So I’ve had to resort to my usual process of ridiculously over thinking it. There are a few lines that could give one pause; things like:



”we stopped at another burger joint late in the week, after we’d run out of pre-prepared dinners at the house.”

You could have had more stuff in the house, but just wanted to go out this evening.


”And yes, we did find a Delaware plate.”

This one has been discussed at length


”I tried to sign Scotty’s forehead, but he wouldn’t sit still for me.”

I believe your kids just might have found this to be funny and played along


”We returned to the beach house and stayed up late, almost to midnight”

You may have gone to bed at a more reasonable time or possibly even later then that.


You certainly made this one mightily tough. So I have no choice but to go completely off my rocker and pick something that can’t possibly be right (failure is always an option ya’ know). I’m tagging you on this one here:


“Julie and I talked about how we hoped we could pull off the Disney surprise.”


Why? Well, y’all already had a plan so it didn’t need to be discussed at length. But then I also read two other sentences elsewhere in this TR that could lead one in an entirely odd direction. Those could well have been red hearings, but they seemed more wry then snarky to me. The result is that I’m thinking it was entirely possible that the kids may well already have been aware of tomorrow’s destination by this time.

Could I be wrong… absolutely… probably… most likely even…
but I like being the odd man out.

 

[cheshireqt]

I enjoy being privy to the mission details
All caught up, can't wait to read whether the cover story worked and if the big reveal of Disney was successful.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

I am also late to the party but am so happy to have found you. I've had a great time catching up this afternoon... although I am now seriously craving a burger for dinner.

Looking forward to the launch of Operation Thunder!

 

[Flossbolna]

Hi Mark! I am really sorry that I absolutely can't keep up with the comments at the moment - just not enough time for the boards... But I am reading along and enjoy all of it! The beach looks really wonderful, makes me want to plan a beach vacation and I am not a beachy person normally...

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

WOO HOO! I got a point.

Keep trying to guess the lies, that's the way to catch up in this game.

It helps to have a Batman obsessed husband. Never mind that for some reason, during the 4am feedings when my littlest guy was a baby, that movie would ALWAYS be on. Usually I'd wake up to the delightfulness of seeing Two Face with his face all exposed. Scared the ever lovin'...well, you know...out of me. Every time.

Ugh. That was pretty creepy. And I'm sure it wasn't a welcome sight at 4 a.m.

Sorry, total digression there. Back to your regular trip report programming.

Don't know if you've read too many of the DIS Dads' trip reports, but we encourage as many digressions as possible. It distracts from the poor quality of the actual TR writing.

Agreed.

I think they're both pretty amazing in those films, and love the way the play off of each other.

They're both bonkers!

Princess Bride

+1

Lovely beach photos! I'm voting for the second family shot too. Love the combinations of colors. The picture of you and your lovely wife needs to be framed and put on the mantle at home(I hope you have one).

We actually have a picture of the 2 of us at Myrtle Beach from years ago up on the mantle. I think it's time to update it.

I'm very impressed with Scotty's battlefield set up. Amazing!

I thought so, too! Unless, as others pointed out, I wasn't entirely honest about it...

Your burger is very impressive! I like seafood and spicy food. I hope it's ok for me to stick around.

Of course! It would be awful boring if everyone had the same tastes as me.
Being from Louisiana, I'm sure you were raised on seafood and spicy stuff.

I'm glad you enjoyed your time at the beach. You needed to unwind before hitting the parks.

I thought it was supposed to be the other way around. But I guess we're a little weird.

I going to take another shot in the dark and say the lie was that you didn't stay up until midnight. Hopefully you got some rest before the drive to Disney but I also know how hard it is to sleep the night before you leave.

So you're thinking it would have been awful foolhardy to stay up that late the night before a massive drive, then? As I mentioned before, no one ever accused us of being the sharpest knives in the drawer.

 

[TarzansKat]

Keep trying to guess the lies, that's the way to catch up in this game.

My mission, should I choose to accept, is to spot the lies!

Ugh. That was pretty creepy. And I'm sure it wasn't a welcome sight at 4 a.m.

You would think as a self-preservationary (yes I make up words) tactic, I would have learned to AVERT my eyes.

Alas, no.

Don't know if you've read too many of the DIS Dads' trip reports, but we encourage as many digressions as possible. It distracts from the poor quality of the actual TR writing.

Free reign to digress?

This could be dangerous.

They're both bonkers!

But in such a good way!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Hillbilly Hotdogs was on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives. It looked great. I want to try the Homewrecker.

Jill in CO

I believe we saw that one. It did look really good. That's another good source we use for our road trip research.

Finally caught up. Sorry for being late to the game, but I gotta hand it to you for once again providing a great narrative for your family's excursions.

Thanks Brian! For an evil nemesis, you're awfully kind sometimes.

Looking forward to the remainder of the report and now I'm jumping in. (late as usual)

Wouldn't expect anything less.

Blaming Barry.
Oh there's a big surprise! That's an incredible - I think I'm going to have a heart attack and die of not surprise!

Aladdin! Do I get a point?

As nerdy as you are I don't think that much nerdiness can be transferred within the 6 year window. Gotta call L-I-E on this one if only for Scotty's sake.

You don't think a 6-year-old could have understood and re-staged Burnside's Bridge? Don't make Scotty angry. You wouldn't like him when he's angry.

"What's in your head boy?”

Oh wait… I agree with that one. Rush did a marvelous job of being baaaaaaaad. Heck, he stole an entire scene without saying a word. Just an exasperated sigh, the sarcastic roll of the eyes, and a quick draw and firing of a flintlock pistole… perfectly evil. Remember the scene?

It takes a remarkable actor to go over the top without over-acting, you know?

Well actually, there is one more thing: the declaring of the spot in this post where you told a big ol’ lie.

Nothing was straightforward here (by design). So I’ve had to resort to my usual process of ridiculously over thinking it. There are a few lines that could give one pause; things like:


”we stopped at another burger joint late in the week, after we’d run out of pre-prepared dinners at the house.”

You could have had more stuff in the house, but just wanted to go out this evening.

We do consider going out to dinner part of vacation. Julie doesn't like to have to cook while we're traveling. But as I said before, we also were going to be paying out of pocket for meals at WDW the next week, which as you may have heard, is not cheap.

”And yes, we did find a Delaware plate.”

This one has been discussed at length

But it is worth asking the question.

”I tried to sign Scotty’s forehead, but he wouldn’t sit still for me.”

I believe your kids just might have found this to be funny and played along

How much do you think I tease them at home?

”We returned to the beach house and stayed up late, almost to midnight”

You may have gone to bed at a more reasonable time or possibly even later then that.

Could be a few factors at work here. Being out in the sun all day tends to tire you out. And we are Disney geeks who were looking forward to going. On the other hand, it was the last night to enjoy the company of our friends and that magnificent 3rd-floor porch.

And of course, the other possibility you didn't mention is that Scotty didn't actually re-create the battle by himself.

You certainly made this one mightily tough. So I have no choice but to go completely off my rocker and pick something that can’t possibly be right (failure is always an option ya’ know). I’m tagging you on this one here:


“Julie and I talked about how we hoped we could pull off the Disney surprise.”


Why? Well, y’all already had a plan so it didn’t need to be discussed at length. But then I also read two other sentences elsewhere in this TR that could lead one in an entirely odd direction. Those could well have been red hearings, but they seemed more wry then snarky to me. The result is that I’m thinking it was entirely possible that the kids may well already have been aware of tomorrow’s destination by this time.

Could I be wrong… absolutely… probably… most likely even…
but I like being the odd man out.

Just curious, what 2 sentences are those?

So, you're going BIG here. We're talking a game-changing, Keyser Soze-level don't-cross-the-streams pull-the-rug-out twist. Could it be that the entire premise of this Trip Report--that of a surprise Disney trip--is a lie??

That would certainly be a dirty trick. Not that I'm above dirty tricks, of course.

Or it could be that Julie and I couldn't help but talk about it that night, because we were so excited ourselves.

Anyway, I like your style. Go big or go home. We who are about to die salute you.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

I enjoy being privy to the mission details
All caught up, can't wait to read whether the cover story worked and if the big reveal of Disney was successful.

We'll find out soon enough! Thanks for reading!

I am also late to the party but am so happy to have found you. I've had a great time catching up this afternoon... although I am now seriously craving a burger for dinner.

Looking forward to the launch of Operation Thunder!

I don't know about you, but I always have a craving for a burger. Except for a nice MLT--mutton, lettuce, tomato. When the mutton is nice and lean...that's so perky. I love that.

Hi Mark! I am really sorry that I absolutely can't keep up with the comments at the moment - just not enough time for the boards... But I am reading along and enjoy all of it! The beach looks really wonderful, makes me want to plan a beach vacation and I am not a beachy person normally...

Hi Magdalene! I'm thrilled to hear from you whenever you can pop in! Sorry things are so busy for you. Hopefully it's busy with enjoyable things and not a drag on you.

So glad you're reading along! I'm not normally one to spend a whole week at the beach, either...but it really depends on the beach.

My mission, should I choose to accept, is to spot the lies!

This message will self-destruct in 5 seconds.

You would think as a self-preservationary (yes I make up words) tactic, I would have learned to AVERT my eyes.

Alas, no.

What's wrong with making up words? I think that's a perfectly cromulent word.

Free reign to digress?

This could be dangerous.

It's all part of the fun!

But in such a good way!

 

[Cinderella's Fella]

You wouldn't like him when he's angry.

Hulk

 

[Cinderella's Fella]

Except for a nice MLT--mutton, lettuce, tomato. When the mutton is nice and lean...that's so perky. I love that.

Princess Bride

 

[Cinderella's Fella]

This message will self-destruct in 5 seconds.

Mission Impossible

 

[glennbo123]

I think that's a perfectly cromulent word.

The Simpsons

 

[glennbo123]

We're talking a game-changing, Keyser Soze-level don't-cross-the-streams pull-the-rug-out twist.

A reference to The Usual Suspects (Keyser Soze) and Ghostbusters (don't cross the streams).

We who are about to die salute you.

Gods and Generals.

 

[glennbo123]

As tempting as it is to call the license plate thing a lie (ie. you didn't find a DE plate), there had to be a DE plate amongst all of those in that restaurant. I think middlepat is right, I'll say that Scotty was playing with his soldiers and you came up with the idea that it was a re-creation of the Battle for Burnsides' Bridge.

 

[vamassey1]

As tempting as it is to call the license plate thing a lie (ie. you didn't find a DE plate), there had to be a DE plate amongst all of those in that restaurant. I think middlepat is right, I'll say that Scotty was playing with his soldiers and you came up with the idea that it was a re-creation of the Battle for Burnsides' Bridge.

I have to agree with Glenn, especially with all the hints you given. Sounds like he had some help with the set up. Did you also play with him too?

 

[eandesmom]

In fact I think you staged the entire battle and he wasn't involved at all! Not really but that'd be funny.

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

How much do you think I tease them at home?

I would say fairly regular. What’s the point of having young’ens if you don’t intend to interact with them. Besides, I’ve read enough of your TR’s to know that they are playful and inquisitive kids. I don’t think that you actually drew on your boy (this time), but I believe you might have considered it, and I believe that under the right conditions, he’d have allowed it.

I know that both of those statements would have been true in my house (that is when my boy was a might younger at least).

And of course, the other possibility you didn't mention is that Scotty didn't actually re-create the battle by himself.

And that seems to be the popular choice. A pretty good one too if you ask me.
So why didn’t I go so far off base…

Well, partly to be different (if I’m right, not many others will have followed my example, that’s for certain), partly because I wanted to shake things up a bit, partly because I’m just a might daft, and partly because of the answer to your next question…

Just curious, what 2 sentences are those?

The sentences in question that led me to completely loose my mind (and apparently to throw away any chance at 10 coveted points) were these two right here…

Pawleys was gorgeous and I loved being there with our friends. I was also looking forward to the next day! Would we be able to keep the surprise for another few hours?!

To which you answered…

I don't know. Are any of the adults in your household terrible at keeping secrets?

I could very well be very wrong (and even hope that I am to a certain extent)…
But what you’re getting here is an example of just how twisted my thought processes actually are.

So, you're going BIG here. We're talking a game-changing, Keyser Soze-level don't-cross-the-streams pull-the-rug-out twist. Could it be that the entire premise of this Trip Report--that of a surprise Disney trip--is a lie??

That would certainly be a dirty trick. Not that I'm above dirty tricks, of course.

Y’all like film quotes.
OK…

"The path of flood. Only in the leap from the lion's head will he prove his worth.

It's... a leap of faith"


I may not have chosen wisely, but I have chosen
(Oh, and I do have faith in you’re ability to be quite sneaky.)

Or it could be that Julie and I couldn't help but talk about it that night, because we were so excited ourselves.

Actually… this is what I’m betting on here. It was still a monumental surprise, it just got revealed that evening rather then in the morning, and everyone in the house was up late talking excitedly about the journey to come.

I believe that you’ve already made it rather clear that I’m wrong, but I intend stand by my choice rather then jump onto the bandwagon.

Anyway, I like your style. Go big or go home. We who are about to die salute you.

Missed all the quotes this time around (including that one there), and now it appears that I’ve got the fib wrong as well…

Don’t know that foolhardiness of that caliber deserves a salute.
Oh well, next time then.

 

[Cinderella's Fella]

Y’all like film quotes.
OK…

"The path of flood. Only in the leap from the lion's head will he prove his worth.

It's... a leap of faith"

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

I'll get them where I can.