Operation Big Thunder: the Dole Whip Conspiracy COMPLETE

[Poolrat]

And secondly, you caught an infamous Moroccan architecural element in one of your pictures. (right side) I never knew where it was exactly, but this picture helps pin down the location.

YOU FOUND IT!!!!! I just thought of a comment I could make but I better not.....

Let me think about how to word this.....


Now that the whereabouts are known, it may make it easier to find next time I am there.


That is much better that what I thought of first.

So, we had a little trouble with the lie in this chapter. I had not intended to lie about Epcot being the largest park. Instead, it was a careless sentence. Epcot involves the largest amount of walking, but Animal Kingdom is indeed the largest in terms of total area. Most of you called me out on that, so I'm giving credit for that answer.

The actual lie in the chapter was probably too subtle to really have a good chance to suss it out. So it's probably a good thing that I was careless on Epcot. In this chapter, I simply lied about the songs the Voices of Liberty performed. They did a medley of folk tunes and then the national anthem instead.

As I caught up and read this the Red ink drew me in and I thought that might be the lie since I have not hear VoL sing those songs. Then again, I have only heard them sing a couple of times so I couldn't be sure.


I am indeed all caught up - the movie quotes long gone and several updates done.

The EPCOT trek made me tired.
The rude people at IllumiNations made me
The Brazillians made me
The Pizza at Via Napoli
Playing in the water fountains of Imagination

Great Pictures and with the couple of exceptions Great trip so far.

vamassey1 - great call on the boat and bathrooms. As I was reading along I was saying that too.


Totally did not comment on Dad of the year.

Don't sweat it. Yes you are superdad but human too. That is why there are lifeguards there and that is part of the reason they are there. You actually trying to help her may have gotten you in more trouble without the jacket.

The only time I went and swam - I thought we could kick but can't remember, I had the boy who at the time could not really swim ( I know I know Yes it is possible and he was 5 almost 6 when he finally learned from someone else )
I had him and my DD the fish went ahead with her dad.
I had to hold myself , not hyperventilate, and hold him. The LGs were looking at me and I was trying to reassure them I was actually trained and knew what I was doing and could handle it but all eyes were on me waiting for me to go down.

I finally got him across but I don't think he even saw anything. Head out the whole way.

Ahhhh Memories. :

 

[afwdwfan]

But one day’s admission to IoA would be very pricey, and since most of the other rides at that park are of the Extremis Suicidus species, we didn’t think it would be a good value for us.

You call them Extremis Suicidus, I call them fun.

We awoke to see the NFL’s replacement referees getting in some early practice.

Well, I guess that makes sense. I know they had refs that they brought in from arena and lower level college to do NFL games. Why not bring the refs from the Budweiser Clydesdale games too?

Julie thought the concrete bump-outs on the slide were a little too rough on her hindquarters, so she opted to wait at the bottom while I took the kids for another go-round.

Well, that's a good dad move.

Even if you can swim. (cue ominous music)

(did you start playing the music yet? I can't hear it)

(Ok, that's better)

I don't know what kind of ominous music you had in mind, but I've got the Jaws music stuck in my head now.

We had a slight delay as they told us they were finishing feeding the fish their breakfast.

Translation: "We're chumming the water before you get in."

I can’t be sure, but I think breakfast consisted of people who were caught using last year’s refillable mugs, resort pool-hopping, or refusing to move all the way down the row in the theaters.

Oh, I thought they fed the sharks people who leave their towels sitting on a chair at a water park while they're off enjoying the slides and swimming with the sharks.

And yet, when the other group started their swim, we saw a young boy pop his head up out of the water in panic, and frantically swim back to the start shouting, “SHARK!”

So, the optimist might say that it was a comedy of errors that led to an unfortunate situation.

Yeah, I'm going for this one. Kind of hard to know she's having trouble when you can't even identify her. I know that doesn't make it any easier though.

If it makes you feel better, I'm sure the whole "surprise, we're going to Disney World" thing and the the day at a water park probably offset some of the negativity.

I definitely needed to make this one up to her.

I'm sure you'll come up with something good.

Coming Up Next: I try to distract the kids from their father’s failings with more water slides!

And that's a good start!

I've got a Typhoon Lagoon memory involving a parent too, only kind of in reverse of what happened with you. The only time my family has ever been to a Disney water park, the lifeguard had to dive into the wave pool to help my mom. I was about 2 feet away from and had no clue what was even happening until I saw the lifeguard jump into the water right next to me.

So yeah, I understand how you could have no idea what was going on since you were concentrating on just keeping yourself afloat.

Baseball is still going? Next you're going to tell me Raul Ibanez isn't actually washed up.

Well, it is over now. It takes some real effort to blow a series with 3 tries at home to win 1 game.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

We had 2 full days left at Disney World, and only one day on our Park Hopper tickets. So we needed to fill a day with something else.

Napping!

We also considered going to Islands of Adventure in order to see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter—Sarah is the worlds’ Most Ginormous Harry Potter Fan

I came across this on the Interwebs this morning and thought of Sarah:

and would go apes—uh, crazy for it.

Hmmmm....teenage girl at a Justin Beiber concert apes--- or Bruce Banner getting angry apes----? If it's the latter, I'd like to see that. From a safe distance.

Our kids had never actually been to a water park

WHAAAAA? I guess we're spoiled here with Wisconsin Dells - the watermark capital of the world.

We awoke to see the NFL’s replacement referees getting in some early practice.

NOT FUNNY. NOT FUNNY AT ALL.

AAAHHH!! PASTY WHITE! Oh, you're wearing a t-shirt. Thank God. For a second there I thought that was your skin.

Apparently pools and waterslides are not good on wallets, cash, room keys, credit cards,

glass eyes, prosthetic legs, chest implanted arc reactors...

If there’s a negative about Disney water parks, it’s that you have to retrieve the raft yourself and carry it up the stairs to the top of the slide.

This tip might be a bit late, but they are round. And they roll pretty well.

(did you start playing the music yet? I can't hear it)

(Ok, that's better)

I couldn't find anything ominous, so I started humming the theme to its a small world.

At this point, the boys decided that maybe entering a tank of water with fearsome carnivores wasn’t such a good idea.

Ah, the ignorance of youth. Once they grow up to be men it will still be a bad idea, but they'll do it anyway.

And yet, when the other group started their swim, we saw a young boy pop his head up out of the water in panic, and frantically swim back to the start shouting, “SHARK!”

I'd like to call this the lie, but sadly, I'm sure there are people that actually are this dumb. I'll call lie anyway.

So, the optimist might say that it was a comedy of errors that led to an unfortunate situation. And the pessimist would say that I abandoned my daughter in a pool full of live sharks.

And a realist would argue that Disney has lifeguard stationed all over that pool, that the sharks were tiny, bottom feeding nurse sharks that would just as soon take a tarter sauce bath than get near a person, and that all's well that ends well.

I felt like a failure, and I begged for her forgiveness. I definitely needed to make this one up to her.

WHO WANTS A PONY?

I think the attraction itself is a neat idea, and it’s great to be able to say you swam in a tank with sharks.

I liked it a lot. Madison did what Scotty and Dave did and wised up/chickened out at the start. Evan did make it all the way across with some encouragement and me holding his hand.

 

[glennbo123]

YOU FOUND IT!!!!! I just thought of a comment I could make but I better not.....

Let me think about how to word this.....


Now that the whereabouts are known, it may make it easier to find next time I am there.


That is much better that what I thought of first.

I want to take the high road here, but you're making it difficult!

 

[Cinderella's Fella]

Well, it is over now. It takes some real effort to blow a series with 3 tries at home to win 1 game.

No it's NOT!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Gonna need a bigger boat = Jaws

Classic blunder = The Princess Bride

Moe, Larry, and Curly = The 3 Stooges (wasn't there a movie recently?)

Gotta run. At least I got a couple.

+3 for Glenn! Hope you weren't too late for the meeting.

Well, you just tell Sarah she did better than me because I wouldn't have even considered going in to the shark tank in the first place.

It sounds worse than it is. I think the cold water is the scariest part. Well, that and abandoning your children in there.

I love Typhoon Lagoon and the family slide and all, but Mark refuses to go anymore until they put in elevators...way too many stairs to get up to those things. And it just isn't worth the cost of admission to spend all day int he Lazy River.

Yeah, that's understandable. It is a lot of stairs, and there's no way around them. I'm sure the cost of retro-fitting things for elevators would be big.

Knowing your family, I'm sure Sarah forgived you. And you are a great Dad...it could have happened to anyone.

Thanks, Kathy. This was early in the day, so there was still time for it to improve. After all, how could it get any worse?! Take a look around you! We're at the threshold of hell!

Airplane

Hay I got one!

+1

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

I thought Glenn was in a meeting.

Obviously he figured out what was more important.

Doesn't matter, though, I can't find quotes anyway.

There weren't too many in this update. Sometimes it's hard to fit them in naturally.

Every time you post an AKV picture, I get a stupid smile on my face since I'll be there three weeks from tomorrow!!!

That place is awesome, isn't it? I'll try and get some more posted for you, and also try not to be extremely jealous.

We've never done the water parks. I've been holding off until both kids were older.

That was our plan too. We figured they weren't worth the money unless the kids could, you know, swim. Or at least be tall enough for the slides.

Poor Sarah! I sure hope she was able to enjoy the rest of the day. And don't feel bad! There really wasn't much you could do when you were having problems, too. I know you felt terrible, as any good dad would! I'm sure she got lots and lots of love after that!

I tried. She's the biggest waterbug out of our three, so it was really important that she enjoy the waterpark. Usually we can never get her out of the water at the pool or the ocean.

A Star Wars IV refference


(Looks like I got lucky, but now I need to get back to work. I'll read the rest latter on, y'all enjoy!)

+1

Mark, Buddy, I've been a father alot longer for you, so let me give you a little advice.

Years form now, your little darling daughter is going to screw up BIG time. You sit her down look her in the eye and remind her of the shark tank and how she felt about you at that time. You then tell her, that's how you feel about her now! It will hit her better than a 2 X 4.

Oh yea, you screwed up! Get over it!

I'll have to remember that one! I figure the other lesson I need to impart is to admit when you mess up and take responsibility for it. She might look up at me and say, "I'm really beginning to question your teaching methods."

thwarted again.

Though to be fair the only one I spotted was the Jaws one.

I figured the Princess Bride one would go pretty quickly, too.

Lie. Some poor jerk didn't carry BOTH rafts up. Julie carried one.

Or rolled it up the steps. Anyway, not the lie. I did most of the rides with the kids, so I did most of the work.

I have to agree on the conveyor belts. Grey Wolf Lodge has that one down and it is sweet. You feel like you carry the raft for forever, tweak your back, neck whatever and then POOF the ride is "that" fast, short and over. Work it is.

Yeah, it's odd to me that they didn't think of that when they built the parks. They usually think of everything. I would think it would help the lines go faster as well.

Poor Poor Sarah! That sounds traumatizing for everyone involved.

No deliberate abandonment, I can very easily see how that would happen.

Still felt awful, though. Sometimes you bite off a little more than you can chew. I just hope it doesn't stop her from trying something like this again.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

if yo picked blizzard beach, they would have taken the family tube to the top for you

I'll have to remember that next time!

as for the lie, even though you had a very long story about "abandoning" her, im going to say that was a lie, that you did indeed stay close to her and help her across.

I really, really, really (got that Randall?) wish that was indeed the lie.

what swayed your choice to pick TL instead of BB?

A couple of things. First, Julie and I had seen BB before (before we had kids) but none of us had been to TL. So we wanted to cross that off the list.

We figured they'd be similar in terms of the rafts, slides, lazy river, kids area, etc. But we knew no one in our family would have any interest in doing the big speed slides at BB. But the wave pool, shark reef rolleyes2) and Crush 'n Gusher all held great appeal for us.

we always have loved BB more, we like the slides alot more, and the tabogan racers are awesome, and alot of fun.

Now that I've been there, I'd say the raft slides are definitely better at BB. But have you tried the Crush 'n Gusher?

Princess Bride - Never get involved in a land war in Asia
The obvious - the Three Stooges - Curly, More, larry and shemp

Do you think I had those names in the wrong order?

Wow - the underwater camera came in handy. Poor Sarah. You know - once you are in there, its really hard to keep your bearings. I remember going in there years ago with Brian because I think Nick chickened out. Maybe Brian did too and it was so cold I haven't wanted to go back since.

I really underestimated how hard it would be to tread water myself and breathe through the snorkel. Of course, I didn't expect to be gulping salt water.

I know my SIL wants to take my nephews there, but I think its really hard to keep track of kids unless you are actually in a raft with them. Otherwise you have to be super vigilent to their wear-abouts.

I don't think that was too much of a problem for us. The kids mostly stuck with us. You can get separated in the lazy river, though (spoiler alert).

Don't beat yourself up Mark, I've done that shark reef (as you pointed out) and I can totally see that happening. In fact, I think I stopped at that same rock to fix my mask and snorkel. And yes, between the cold and the snorkel problems, you have a mini panic attack. They should have an area to get used to that water, because it is so cold -- your description captured it well.

I hope so--I used your description! But yes, an area to get used to it and try out the equipment first would be most welcome. Then you might realize that it's not exactly airtight.

All back up to speed on this mission alias TR! So glad to hear making the surprise reach to its greatest extent at the Gates of Heaven! The video was awesome. "Pterodactyl screeching" lol And I would point out some quotes and all that stuff, but I think I may be too late though I did hear some Jaws in there, but I'm sure everyone caught that

You know that was the time I was most frightened... waitin' for my turn. I'll never put on a lifejacket again. So, eleven hundred men went in the water; 316 men come out and the sharks took the rest, June the 29th, 1945. Anyway, we delivered the bomb.

Poor Sarah though, I can only imagine how awful that was. The Shark Reef seems to take a lot of guts to get through and I'm a pretty experienced swimmer myself, but gotta give Sarah credit, would've walked out immediately at her age. Hope she got through it in the alright though

It really isn't that bad. You just have to be able to handle the cold water and figure out how to breathe through the snorkel. The sharks are probably the least scary part!

 

[glennbo123]

You know that was the time I was most frightened... waitin' for my turn. I'll never put on a lifejacket again. So, eleven hundred men went in the water; 316 men come out and the sharks took the rest, June the 29th, 1945. Anyway, we delivered the bomb.

Jaws. Quint describing the USS Indianapolis tragedy.

 

[glennbo123]

I hope so--I used your description!

Is that what I said? "COLD! Cold, cold, cold, cold, cold!"? I'll have to go back and look. That sure is some well-written prose, right there. I almost "researched" it as a potential movie quote.

I forgot to ask -- did you guys have any issues with the chemicals they use to disinfect the masks burning your faces? It was nasty!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

YOU FOUND IT!!!!! I just thought of a comment I could make but I better not.....

Let me think about how to word this.....


Now that the whereabouts are known, it may make it easier to find next time I am there.


That is much better that what I thought of first.

Hoo boy. Not sure what I can say here other than SQUIRREL!

As I caught up and read this the Red ink drew me in and I thought that might be the lie since I have not hear VoL sing those songs. Then again, I have only heard them sing a couple of times so I couldn't be sure.

Tricksy hobbitses.

I am indeed all caught up - the movie quotes long gone and several updates done.

The EPCOT trek made me tired.
The rude people at IllumiNations made me
The Brazillians made me
The Pizza at Via Napoli
Playing in the water fountains of Imagination

Great Pictures and with the couple of exceptions Great trip so far.

We packed a lot into a day, that's for sure!

vamassey1 - great call on the boat and bathrooms. As I was reading along I was saying that too.

It was fun to throw in the test of Disney bathroom geography. Maybe I'll do it again.

Totally did not comment on Dad of the year.

Don't sweat it. Yes you are superdad but human too. That is why there are lifeguards there and that is part of the reason they are there. You actually trying to help her may have gotten you in more trouble without the jacket.

That makes me feel a little better.

The only time I went and swam - I thought we could kick but can't remember, I had the boy who at the time could not really swim ( I know I know Yes it is possible and he was 5 almost 6 when he finally learned from someone else )
I had him and my DD the fish went ahead with her dad.
I had to hold myself , not hyperventilate, and hold him. The LGs were looking at me and I was trying to reassure them I was actually trained and knew what I was doing and could handle it but all eyes were on me waiting for me to go down.

I finally got him across but I don't think he even saw anything. Head out the whole way.

Ahhhh Memories. :

Goodness. Sounds like this shark reef is full of stories!

 

[glennbo123]

SQUIRREL!

Tricksy hobbitses.

Up!

and

The Lord of the Rings (the Two Towers?)

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

You call them Extremis Suicidus, I call them fun.

Can you honestly see anyone in my family climbing onto the Incredible Hulk coaster? Without a gun to our heads, I mean?

Well, I guess that makes sense. I know they had refs that they brought in from arena and lower level college to do NFL games. Why not bring the refs from the Budweiser Clydesdale games too?

This referee's a jacka--.

No, I believe that's a zebra.

Well, that's a good dad move.

I try. Sometimes I succeed.

I don't know what kind of ominous music you had in mind, but I've got the Jaws music stuck in my head now.

The Soundtrack Committee approves your selection.

Translation: "We're chumming the water before you get in."

Now that you mention it, it did have a reddish tint to it.

Oh, I thought they fed the sharks people who leave their towels sitting on a chair at a water park while they're off enjoying the slides and swimming with the sharks.

Oh, don't get me started on jerks like that. They just make me want to--

Hey!

Yeah, I'm going for this one. Kind of hard to know she's having trouble when you can't even identify her. I know that doesn't make it any easier though.

If it makes you feel better, I'm sure the whole "surprise, we're going to Disney World" thing and the the day at a water park probably offset some of the negativity.

It's hard to think of that other stuff in the moment. Luckily, we had the rest of the day to work on her.

I'm sure you'll come up with something good.

Now you're putting the pressure on me.

And that's a good start!

We aim to please!

I've got a Typhoon Lagoon memory involving a parent too, only kind of in reverse of what happened with you. The only time my family has ever been to a Disney water park, the lifeguard had to dive into the wave pool to help my mom. I was about 2 feet away from and had no clue what was even happening until I saw the lifeguard jump into the water right next to me.

So yeah, I understand how you could have no idea what was going on since you were concentrating on just keeping yourself afloat.

That's definitely a scary situation.

And like I keep saying, I got my screen name for a reason.

Well, it is over now. It takes some real effort to blow a series with 3 tries at home to win 1 game.

Sorry, dude. I imagine it feels like having a 10-point lead in a football game with 5:00 left in the 4th quarter and blowing the game.

 

[afwdwfan]

Can you honestly see anyone in my family climbing onto the Incredible Hulk coaster? Without a gun to our heads, I mean?

I just can't believe that Dave wouldn't. He clearly experiences more G's and more inversions in his sleep than most roller coasters put you through.

This referee's a jacka--.

No, I believe that's a zebra.

A reference to a Budweiser commercial.

Sorry, dude. I imagine it feels like having a 10-point lead in a football game with 5:00 left in the 4th quarter and blowing the game.

Yeah, but at least that happened fast, like ripping off a band aid. I had to watch it slowly unfold for 3 days.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Napping!

Well...there's that.

I came across this on the Interwebs this morning and thought of Sarah:

That's awesome! She will love it!

Hmmmm....teenage girl at a Justin Beiber concert apes--- or Bruce Banner getting angry apes----? If it's the latter, I'd like to see that. From a safe distance.

For Harry Potter, Sarah would probably go the former route. The latter is reserved for people who jump in front of you while you're watching Illuminations.

WHAAAAA? I guess we're spoiled here with Wisconsin Dells - the watermark capital of the world.

We've talked about taking them to the Great Wolf Lodge sometime. I guess we need to try and actually make that happen.

NOT FUNNY. NOT FUNNY AT ALL.

Sorry. Maybe just a little bit funny?

Looks like the Packers took out their frustrations on Houston.

AAAHHH!! PASTY WHITE! Oh, you're wearing a t-shirt. Thank God. For a second there I thought that was your skin.

You're not far off! But I was still somewhat toasty from the whole beach sunscreen incident the previous week.

glass eyes, prosthetic legs, chest implanted arc reactors...

Excuse me, this is the Fun-vee. The Hum-Drum-Vee is back there.

This tip might be a bit late, but they are round. And they roll pretty well.

I tried that at times, but it's tougher to pull off around corners and in crowds.

But thank you, Cowboy. I'll take it under advisement.

I couldn't find anything ominous, so I started humming the theme to its a small world.

That may be the scariest song known to man.

Ah, the ignorance of youth. Once they grow up to be men it will still be a bad idea, but they'll do it anyway.

I know I should be worried about that coming stage when they start doing really stupid stuff, but I'm a guy, and also secretly looking forward to it.

I'd like to call this the lie, but sadly, I'm sure there are people that actually are this dumb. I'll call lie anyway.

I won't deny it. That it might be the lie, or that there really are people this dumb out there.

And a realist would argue that Disney has lifeguard stationed all over that pool, that the sharks were tiny, bottom feeding nurse sharks that would just as soon take a tarter sauce bath than get near a person, and that all's well that ends well.

And a cubist would make a really weird painting of it and then end up selling it for a fortune. But thanks.

WHO WANTS A PONY?

I liked it a lot. Madison did what Scotty and Dave did and wised up/chickened out at the start. Evan did make it all the way across with some encouragement and me holding his hand.

I remember seeing the pictures of him doing it with you. And also that you were smart enough to grab the life jacket.

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Finally getting around to this update.
Lord its been a long week&

Mission Log #15: Checkpoint Tango Lima

Tango Lima...

Nice.

But one days admission to IoA would be very pricey, and since most of the other rides at that park are of the Extremis Suicidus species, we didnt think it would be a good value for us.

The last time we were at Universal (and its been a wile) the phrase that they used to describe the rougher attractions was Dynamically Aggressive.

I rather liked that euphemism and it has since made its way into our familys unique dialect of Southrn English.

There was one more option: a water park. Our kids had never actually been to a water park,

So... having dad throw you off his shoulders and into an oncoming wave in somewhat deep ocean water doesnt count as having been to a water park?

Well then I never went to one as a kid either.

The others looked like they were all concrete, ladders and tubes. Disney had elaborate theming and storytelling.

And that right there is part of what makes Disney& Disney.

The weather forecast for the day was iffy40% chance of showers. In other words, it was like any other Florida day.

We decided we were already going to get wet, so wed head out anyway.

Thats something most folks do that has ways confused me as well.
If youre going to the beach (or the pool) in the first place&
Why do you care if its raining?
Lightning& that I get, but rain?

We made it for Rope Drop here, which was basically just a crowd that gathered just inside the gates until they played a welcome message.

Unfortunately, thats about all the rope drop festivities are likely to be every where in the future (or so it would seem).

Our first task was to rent a locker near the entrance for our stuff. Apparently pools and waterslides are not good on wallets, cash, room keys, credit cards, etc.

Go figure...

Then we went to find an open chair to hold our bags and towels.

A little like searching for the Holly Grail

We decided to do the family raft first (Gangplank Falls). If theres a negative about Disney water parks, its that you have to retrieve the raft yourself and carry it up the stairs to the top of the slide.

Thats fairly common at a lot of other parks as well.
Usually only the overly heavy rafts are carted up for you.

So some poor jerk ends up lugging rafts uphill all day long.

Because... Thats what you do.
(Im pretty sure its a Man Law)

It was here that I fell for one of the classic blunders.

Inconceivable!

when the Typhoon Lagoon Shark Reef offers you a free life jacket, you take it. Even if you can swim. (cue ominous music)

***taking notes***

We got to the holding area near the pool and the lifeguards started to explain the rules to us. At this point, the boys decided that maybe entering a tank of water with fearsome carnivores wasnt such a good idea.

They may have figured that if you had to sit through a class& then it was just like school.

Which means it cant be fun.
Like most young boys, theyll learn otherwise latter on.
But only after having passed up of a bunch of opportunities.

We had a slight delay as they told us they were finishing feeding the fish their breakfast.

Better you deal with the when theyre not hungry.

I cant be sure, but I think breakfast consisted of people who were caught using last years refillable mugs, resort pool-hopping, or refusing to move all the way down the row in the theaters.

If only...

Its called the Shark Reef. You are told repeatedly that there are live sharks in the water. And yet, when the other group started their swim, we saw a young boy pop his head up out of the water in panic, and frantically swim back to the start shouting, SHARK!

We were told not to turn around and go backwards or stop, but instead continue all the way to the end. And we were told the water was a little cooler than the rest of the pools in the park. Then we got in. I think Glenn put it best in his TR:

COLD!

Cold cold cold cold cold cold cold.

I'm starting to get the idea that the watter was just a might on the coolish side here.

I found that the seal on my snorkel wasnt very good, and I suddenly got a mouthful of cold salt water.

Don't ya just love it when that happens?

You know what would have been great while I gagged and thrashed and choked? A life jacket.

**** going back and underlining previous note****

Unbeknownst to me, Sarah was having the exact same problem to my left.

This Unbeknownst must be the problem you were warning us about

Its killing me to tell this story. Sarah was panicking now that I wasnt around. The lifeguard went over to her and asked if she was ok, and she said no. She was crying at this point and said, I just want my daddy.

OK... Ive got the picture.
Ummmm... hard to council as nothing is ever one size fits all.
But I think you can lighten up a bit on yourself.

Given the life guards and that folks were watching from outside the water as well she was never really in danger. Scared... absolutely (thus most of the tears), but in danger... no. I dont think this ranks up there with a "My Father the Failure" moment. Trust me... Shell get that pound of flesh back from you in many other ways and on many other occasions in the next few years.

The one time my daughter truly needed me, and I had left her alone.

I'm sure this wasn't "the one time", and it wasn't "the first time" and it won't be "the last time", and when it really is "the time"... you'll be there.

I'm sure of that one.

 

[afwdwfan]

Excuse me, this is the Fun-vee. The Hum-Drum-Vee is back there.

Ironman

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

As for the fib…


I do believe that I’ll purposely under-think it this time around
(mostly because I just don’t have time to over think it right now)
And say that…

Since you got there right at rope drop, you didn’t really have that hard of a time finding a decent shady spot to set up a base camp.




It’s probably not that simple, but that’s what I’m going with.

 

[afwdwfan]

thank you, Cowboy. I'll take it under advisement.

Die Hard

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

I want to take the high road here, but you're making it difficult!

No it's NOT!

Sorry about the O's, Randall. They fought a good fight. I was pulling for them. And I'm so glad the Phillies got rid of that washed-up Ibanez guy.

Jaws. Quint describing the USS Indianapolis tragedy.

+1

Is that what I said? "COLD! Cold, cold, cold, cold, cold!"? I'll have to go back and look. That sure is some well-written prose, right there. I almost "researched" it as a potential movie quote.

That's how I remember it, which of course makes it 100% true. And I guess it technically is a quote.

I forgot to ask -- did you guys have any issues with the chemicals they use to disinfect the masks burning your faces? It was nasty!

No, I don't recall having any issues with that. Maybe the gagging on salt water was distracting me.

Up!

and

The Lord of the Rings (the Two Towers?)

+2

I just can't believe that Dave wouldn't. He clearly experiences more G's and more inversions in his sleep than most roller coasters put you through.

He's more cautious when he's awake.

A reference to a Budweiser commercial.

+1

Yeah, but at least that happened fast, like ripping off a band aid. I had to watch it slowly unfold for 3 days.

Well, I've had that pain as well. Why do we watch sports again?