Overdue and Overpacked III: A Tale of Two Cities ~Last Chapter~ 8/22 Page 33

[TyRy]

I mostly sat back and begged him to turn the windshield wipers on high instead of showing me how well the Rain X application he’d recently put on the windshield was working.

Without any help whatsoever from the wipers.

And no, I’m not as impressed with the fact that Rain X causes raindrops to bead up and shimmy up the surface of the windshield as much as I am impressed with the ability of the windshield wiper to actually wipe the rain off the windshield. In a timely manner.

But then again, maybe it’s a guy thing.

This is totally a guy thing...my DH does the same thing - the rain could be coming down super hard yet he has no need for the wipers...umm how about the need to see more than a foot in frount of you!

And so it was that much of the first leg of our journey was spent with him putting the wipers on Ignore and me slowly but surely going stark raving mad (NOEdgarAllenPoe) because of it. I finally broke down and screamed “AT LEAST GIVE ME SOME INTERMITTENT ACTION AND BUMP UP THE TEMPO, MAN!”

Which he did. Reluctantly.

Because of that whole marriage and compromise thing.

Yep total guy thing!

I was pleased to find that the “surprise” from earlier was that he’d loaded the CD changer with six different discs with nothing but 70s, 80s and early 90s music on them. Stuff we’d both listened to in our childhoods, through the awkward preteen years and into young adulthood. Stuff that brought back tons of memories for both of us, lots of bad singing and more than a few laughs. In other words, instead of spending eight or so hours listening to the soundtrack of our vacations, we'd be spending eight or so hours listening to the soundtrack of our lives. The man had made the ultimate “mix tape” and had sufficiently impressed me with his musical collection.

What a totally awesome surprise! It's the best music.

So as we journeyed with Journey toward the Vertical Horizon and wondered what could possibly be Better Than Ezra, DH turned up the AC (DC) and resisted the urge to kick it into Bachman Turner Overdrive. Instead we kept an eye out for the Police, not to mention The Cars around us, while taking in the Electric Light Orchestra displayed in the sky above us and feeling the opposite of the Moody Blues surround us.

Even on a rainy day, the yellow was INXS.

Shortly after Leroy Brown began to look like a jigsaw puzzle with a couple of pieces gone, we got a hankerin’ for a hunka somethin' good.

The look on their faces made everything completely worth it. The moment was awesome and we highly recommend it. It’s a very rewarding thing, that surprise. And that's how we knew from the very beginning that we would not tell them that we were going to Disney on this trip until we were heading underneath the arches. Mum was the word. It was a covert op. We were keeping it on the down low.

What a great description and picture you gave of the kids - you are the best secret keeper.

So we teased them a little more about the Pirate and Princess Party. Okay, maybe torment is a better word. But the way we see it, as long as we know there’s something spectacular in store for them when it’s all said and done, it’s perfectly acceptable to torment them on the way to that something spectacular.

This past year has been a particularly stressful one for our family. Everyone is healthy and happy and we all still love each other dearly. But there were a lot of uncertainties and many more stresses than usual. Most of them tied to our jobs. To put it bluntly, it had been a pretty long year for both me and my husband. This spontaneous vacation was about getting away from it all for us. For just a few days. We were eagerly anticipating being able to put our stressors in a box and throw away the key for just a little while.

And as we finally ran out of the storm and were greeted with this beautiful vision that God created spanning the sky before us, we were reminded of His promise and His provision for us. And in that instant, it all came together. Like a flood. The storms, the rainbow, the long year behind us, the stresses, the new beginnings that lie before us on the road ahead. The unchartered territory just waiting to be experienced on the other side. We knew that everything would turn out exactly the way it was supposed to. We knew it would be great. Better than great, even. And we knew that this vacation, this time of family togetherness, would be a truly blessed one.

A blessed one indeed.

And with that, we smiled and left the stress behind us. Where it belonged. And we set off to find our pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Figuratively. Not literally.

Up Next: Tracy is the the new Stacy.

LaLa - what a great way to sum things up and give everyone something to think about...ok - at least me.

Ty

 

[CampbellScot]

Well it appears I am LATE to this party!!!

I was on the main menu page and I spied the words "Overdue and Overpacked"...

I literally stood up and had a little dance cool1: like that.

SO glad to see you back!!!

As usual, I'm loving every minute of it!

wow...I can't believe that The Girl is SEVEN now!

dang these kids and their refusal to stay small!

YAY!! Lala is back!!

good to see ya sista!!!


more please...

 

[ZZUB]

I'm exhausted. That was the LONGEST drive from Backwater, MS to Orlando EVER! Thank goodness y'all found a McDonald's. Although why you needed a GPS to find a McDonald's is beyond me. Can't you just spot the arches like the rest of us?

I finally broke down and screamed “AT LEAST GIVE ME SOME INTERMITTENT ACTION AND BUMP UP THE TEMPO, MAN!”

I am 8 shades of DED.

Yet another one of those reasons you never want to take a road trip with us.

There are not enough trees left in the Redwood Forest for me to cut down to mill into paper to list the reasons why I would NEVER take a road trip with the LaLas. Chief among those reasons: I know you as the LaLas.

Heck, harder than fourth grade arithmetic.

Which I understand you mastered during your sophomore year at State.

That was a heck of a read. Chief among the reasons I enjoy your TR is b/c you manage to spill a whole lot of funny. You spill a whole lot of things, apparently, but the funny is why I enjoy the ride.

 

[Backstage_Gal]

And as we finally ran out of the storm and were greeted with this beautiful vision that God created spanning the sky before us, we were reminded of His promise and His provision for us. And in that instant, it all came together. Like a flood. The storms, the rainbow, the long year behind us, the stresses, the new beginnings that lie before us on the road ahead. The unchartered territory just waiting to be experienced on the other side. We knew that everything would turn out exactly the way it was supposed to. We knew it would be great. Better than great, even. And we knew that this vacation, this time of family togetherness, would be a truly blessed one.

A blessed one indeed.

And with that, we smiled and left the stress behind us. Where it belonged. And we set off to find our pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Lala, loved the entire chapter, but this section the most. Keep them coming...

 

[Sleeping*Beauty]

And no, I’m not as impressed with the fact that Rain X causes raindrops to bead up and shimmy up the surface of the windshield as much as I am impressed with the ability of the windshield wiper to actually wipe the rain off the windshield. In a timely manner.

But then again, maybe it’s a guy thing.

I totally agree with you about the windshield wipers. I turn mine ion when it's just sprinkling.

We passed Mel and her big feet along the way.

And from the looks of things, homegirl was in serious need of a pedicure.

 

[javamom]

But then again, maybe it’s a guy thing.

All I know is we were in the middle of a downpour going 75 mph and he was not using the windshield wipers. Claimed we didn’t need ‘em. Not with a fresh application of Rain X. Silly woman.

He said. With his eyes.

We are BORG, ...well at least our men folk are BORG. RainX is, apparently, magical and THE coolest thing since (not only bread, but) wheat itself.

That beautiful, awe inspiring rainbow.

Awww what a fantastic welcome after all that stress!!!

 

[AshClan]

LaLa, sweetie, this was a fab chapter. A Thriller, truly. I read it earlier in work, but am just now getting the time to respond. It was Simply Irresistible. So much so that I've now read it three times. Sorry about the (Purple) Rain, and having to subject yourselves to such a Car Wash. It's so awesome, though, that your man hooked you up so you could Play That Funky Music on the way down to your Celebration.

Of course, he had to know that, Fast Car or not, the 7 1/2 hour dang good time was too risky to try for in a storm. There was no way he'd Beat It while driving Against the Wind. Sounds like that weather was really Off The Wall. I'm just glad that you eventually made it safe and sound (In the Nick of Time and Against All Odds).

Oh, and Let's Hear It for the Boy for overcoming his fears and getting through the Danger Zone and into that McDonalds!! I guess it just goes to show you, When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going.

I was DED on Mel's foot, BTW. I'm thinking yes on the pedi, but Can't Fight This Feeling that homegirl might also want to look into an arm wax.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. La, you are the best!!

 

[Sleeping*Beauty]

LaLa, sweetie, this was a fab chapter. A Thriller, truly. I read it earlier in work, but am just now getting the time to respond. It was Simply Irresistible. So much so that I've now read it three times. Sorry about the (Purple) Rain, and having to subject yourselves to such a Car Wash. It's so awesome, though, that your man hooked you up so you could Play That Funky Music on the way down to your Celebration.

Of course, he had to know that, Fast Car or not, the 7 1/2 hour dang good time was too risky to try for in a storm. There was no way he'd Beat It while driving Against the Wind. Sounds like that weather was really Off The Wall. I'm just glad that you eventually made it safe and sound (In the Nick of Time and Against All Odds).

Oh, and Let's Hear It for the Boy for overcoming his fears and getting through the Danger Zone and into that McDonalds!! I guess it just goes to show you, When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going.

I was DED on Mel's foot, BTW. I'm thinking yes on the pedi, but Can't Fight This Feeling that homegirl might also want to look into an arm wax.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. La, you are the best!!

I am DED! Also I Let's Hear It for the Boy.

 

[ahutton]

I have just embarrassed myself. RainX made me burst out laughing and now my family thinks there is no hope for my sanity.

I'm married to a RainX man too. Especially when driving between Pensacola and WDW, for us it always was raining on that part of the trip.

 

[LaLa]

LaLa, sweetie, this was a fab chapter. A Thriller, truly. I read it earlier in work, but am just now getting the time to respond. It was Simply Irresistible. So much so that I've now read it three times. Sorry about the (Purple) Rain, and having to subject yourselves to such a Car Wash. It's so awesome, though, that your man hooked you up so you could Play That Funky Music on the way down to your Celebration.


Of course, he had to know that, Fast Car or not, the 7 1/2 hour dang good time was too risky to try for in a storm. There was no way he'd Beat It while driving Against the Wind. Sounds like that weather was really Off The Wall. I'm just glad that you eventually made it safe and sound (In the Nick of Time and Against All Odds).

Oh, and Let's Hear It for the Boy for overcoming his fears and getting through the Danger Zone and into that McDonalds!! I guess it just goes to show you, When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going.

Baby What a Big Surprise.

Ash, I am DED! 10 shades of it, even. You know you got it goin' on, chick. I had to read YOUR response three times too. It was that funny. You're Unbelievable. LYMI, my girl!

(I really wanted to have a go at saying "y'all" for the first time then, but I just couldn't do it. Coming from my Australian typing fingers, it just sounded wrong. )

That's allright. I'll forgive you for putting yall on Ignore. But feel free to call me mate whenever you want. I love that one. And I promise to read it in an Australian accent in my head so it doesn't sound weird.

Sounds like you kept out of Dire Straits.

That one wrapped up the silver for you, Chappie. Glad I could make you smile, friend.

Great Installment Lala

I love your report

Thanks for sharing

Thanks for posting, Quennifer!

Lesson learned: visit the Trip Reports board once in a while. Don't just hope a good TR will magically fall into your sight. Because I had NO idea you'd started up a new one!

Glad you found us, Princess V!

Excellent La!

Thanks GA!

I'm jumping on board your trip report ! Loving it so far !!

Welcome. Glad you're liking it.

Well it appears I am LATE to this party!!!

I was on the main menu page and I spied the words "Overdue and Overpacked"...

I literally stood up and had a little dance cool1: like that.

SO glad to see you back!!!

As usual, I'm loving every minute of it!

wow...I can't believe that The Girl is SEVEN now!

dang these kids and their refusal to stay small!

YAY!! Lala is back!!

good to see ya sista!!!


more please...

CampbellScot! 'Bout time you got your wickedest stepmom self over here. So glad you jumped on board for another one, chick!

I'm exhausted.

Well maybe if you wouldn't fall asleep in lobbies not alcoves during the day so much, you could actually get some sleep at night. Instead of lying awake counting McDonald's arches.

That was a heck of a read. Chief among the reasons I enjoy your TR is b/c you manage to spill a whole lot of funny. You spill a whole lot of things, apparently, but the funny is why I enjoy the ride.

Thanks ZZUB.

Lala, loved the entire chapter, but this section the most. Keep them coming...

Glad you enjoyed it, Marita.

I have just embarrassed myself. RainX made me burst out laughing and now my family thinks there is no hope for my sanity.

I'm married to a RainX man too. Especially when driving between Pensacola and WDW, for us it always was raining on that part of the trip.

LisaMWDW, AussieAngel, poohsmate, TyRy, Sleeping Beauty, Javamom: I am DED over the men and their aversion to windshield wipers when the RainX has been applied! I had no idea this phenomenon was so far reaching. I asked DH about it last night and he chuckled and said "I think it's about enjoying the fruits of your labor. If I take the time to buff it on there, I wanna see some beads running up that windshield, dangit."

I was DED.

Men.

Thanks for all of your comments. Yall have a great one.

 

[praisehisname]

And we won’t even go into the details of the time the Porta Potty overflowed. In the van.

Hey, we did that! With all three of our kids being pretty close together, I felt like I was constantly potty-training someone. So we kept a little training potty in the van. For emergencies AND convenience!

I was pleased to find that the “surprise” from earlier was that he’d loaded the CD changer with six different discs with nothing but 70s, 80s and early 90s music on them.

Awesome choice of music! It's kind of weird to think that when I was my kids' age, my mom's "memory" music was 50's. And that was old to me. Now my kids are thinking the same thing about 80's music!

And as a parent, there’s not too many feelings better than having the opportunity to surprise your children with something they’ve been pining for.

So true...but I could never do it. Tell me something confidential, some deep dark prayer request and I will take it to my grave. But don't ask me to keep a surprise. I just can't do it. Christmas is TORTURE for me!

This past year has been a particularly stressful one for our family.

So sorry to hear it's been a rough year for you. I hope that the time away was healing and re-energizing for you!

Looking forward to more...

Denise

 

[tina_la]

k started reading the II last night (laughed so loud I woke the baby, thanks alot, while dear hubby slept through the whole thing) took a break from reading II only to find out there is now a III. How will I ever catch up? And now you tell me you are going to UNIVERSAL! Not sure what to think now. Guess I'll have to wait and see how this will turn out.

 

[DVCTiff]

But I will get extremely anxious. My right leg will begin to shake. Violently. My left eye (NOLisaLopez) will twitch. Sporadically. My teeth will clench. Grindingly. My hands will raise in the air. Involuntarily. And I will begin to pull out my hair one strand at a time. Painfully.

OMG - This is me except when DH leaves the wipers going when there is no longer any rain! I sit there thinking, "Any minute he's gonna turn them off" but NO, they just sqwarsh sqwarsh against a now-dry window until I finally reach over and flick them off.

Okay, gotta calm down now. Love the trippie - can't wait for more!

 

[ldadar]

love you lala

(ok, I don't actually know you, but ykwim)

 

[nicolemarie]

Great installment!!! Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

I loved the flashbacks to your October surprise trip! We're planning on surprising our kids tomorrow evening as we pull out of the driveway for a quick weekend in the World. I'm not sure who will be more excited - them, or DH and I.

Wish I had all kinds of time to quote my favorite parts and all that good stuff, but real life calls today, and I'm out of computer time.

Thanks for starting this TR. I'm looking SO forward to reading about your experiences with the Dark Side. And in the Land of Yellow.

This is Nothin' But a Good Time...

 

[LaLa]

Hey, we did that! With all three of our kids being pretty close together, I felt like I was constantly potty-training someone. So we kept a little training potty in the van. For emergencies AND convenience!

Nice to know we weren't the only ones. When the kids were little, I honestly don't know what we would've done without that thing in the van on long road trips. Looking back, I'm not sure the valet at the Contemporary would've agreed it was the best thing since sliced bread but it sure made our lives easier.

Awesome choice of music! It's kind of weird to think that when I was my kids' age, my mom's "memory" music was 50's. And that was old to me. Now my kids are thinking the same thing about 80's music!

My husband and I were outside the other day and saw a couple of kids who looked to be a little older than our son come riding by on an electric scooter singing Rod Stewart at the top of their lungs. We went numb. Because we were thinking "Kids today don't sing Rod Stewart! Where on earth did they hear that?" But mostly because it was Da Ya Think I'm Sexy that they were singing.

So sorry to hear it's been a rough year for you. I hope that the time away was healing and re-energizing for you!

Thank you, praishisname. That was sweet. I feel like I need to clarify a little here though. I don't want to give the impression that we had a bad year. We didn't. Not at all. Because as long as we've got our health and each other, it's always a great year. We just had more work related stress than in years' past. I'm sure we're not the only ones in that boat these days. But things are evening out. In fact, I'm starting a new job on Monday. I'm semi nervous about it but I know it'll be good. The only downside is that I might be a little scarce around here during the day for awhile. Which completely STINKS. Anyway, I just wanted to clarify. I may not have needed to but I'm me so I did.

k started reading the II last night (laughed so loud I woke the baby, thanks alot, while dear hubby slept through the whole thing) took a break from reading II only to find out there is now a III. How will I ever catch up? And now you tell me you are going to UNIVERSAL! Not sure what to think now. Guess I'll have to wait and see how this will turn out.

Yes ma'am. Universal wasn't so bad. They had cookies. Glad I could make you laugh, Tina La. Love the name, by the way.

OMG - This is me except when DH leaves the wipers going when there is no longer any rain! I sit there thinking, "Any minute he's gonna turn them off" but NO, they just sqwarsh sqwarsh against a now-dry window until I finally reach over and flick them off.

Okay, gotta calm down now. Love the trippie - can't wait for more!

I learned to turn off my windshield wipers once the rain has ended LONG ago. It was a lesson I learned from dear old Dad. Apparently all that sqwarshing does a number on the wipers and he wasn't into having to change them out every month. So I learned pretty quick to turn them off five minutes before I thought the rain was gonna stop. I also learned pretty quick NOT TO SING "If you want my body and you think I'm sexy come on honey tell me so...tell me so ba-by". Around the church members. Or anyone else for that matter.

love you lala

(ok, I don't actually know you, but ykwim)

Yeah, I get that alot.

KIDDING! Thanks for posting. But I'm gonna need a phonetic spelling of your name. Otherwise I'll be forced to keep calling you Radar. In my head. Not out loud. God forbid a million times.

Great installment!!! Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

NM, I was stuck on the phone with a guy named Joe when I read this earlier or else I would've responded sooner. Thanks, chick. Love ya Mean it!

I loved the flashbacks to your October surprise trip! We're planning on surprising our kids tomorrow evening as we pull out of the driveway for a quick weekend in the World. I'm not sure who will be more excited - them, or DH and I.

NM, that's awesome! I'm thrilled for yall. But I'm telling you. Once you surprise them with this, you'll find yourself wanting to surprise them with everything. Trips to the pool. Trips to the movies. Trips to the beach. You have no idea what yall are about to step off into, NM. But it's all good. Have a blast, chick.

Wish I had all kinds of time to quote my favorite parts and all that good stuff, but real life calls today, and I'm out of computer time.

There you go, bragging again. I basically read that as "I'm going to Disney (again) and yall ain't. You big bunch 'a sorry sapsuckas!" Maybe you didn't come right out with it like that, but it was definitely implied. And frankly, I don't appreciate it.

Thanks for starting this TR. I'm looking SO forward to reading about your experiences with the Dark Side. And in the Land of Yellow.

This is Nothin' But a Good Time...

Thanks chick. At the rate I'm going, it might be a Long December before I'm finished. But hopefully yall will have plenty of Patience.

 

[AshClan]

La, Awesome news on the new job. Well, except for the less time during the day thing. I am sure you will knock 'em dead!!

NM, if I don't "see" you before you leave, have a BLAST, girl! Can't wait to hear how the surprise goes down. I have a feeling that the boy will remember this birthday for a looooong time!!

 

[Chapter 11]

In fact, I'm starting a new job on Monday. I'm semi nervous about it but I know it'll be good.

Yeah, about that, be here at 8:00 a.m., sharp, and please dress appropriately (no overalls, and please wear shoes -- I had a lot of explaining to do to my partners regarding your interview attire). You get 30 minutes for lunch. There's a 7-11 right around the corner, so you should be good. You also get two 15-minute breaks during the day, so please limit your tobacco chewing to those times. Thanks, and look forward to seeing you next week.

 

[LaLa]

La, Awesome news on the new job. Well, except for the less time during the day thing. I am sure you will knock 'em dead!!

Thanks, Ash. You know I got much love for ya, my sweet friend. So much so that I'm willing to overlook the cart/buggy/aunt/ant thing.

Yeah, about that, be here at 8:00 a.m., sharp, and please dress appropriately (no overalls, and please wear shoes -- I had a lot of explaining to do to my partners regarding your interview attire). You get 30 minutes for lunch. There's a 7-11 right around the corner, so you should be good. You also get two 15-minute breaks during the day, so please limit your tobacco chewing to those times. Thanks, and look forward to seeing you next week.

You have no idea how loud this made me laugh. Thanks for the huge smile this morning, Chappie.

But I only have one question: can I use you for a coat rack while I dance?

 

[Yzma and Kronk]

Yay, Another Lalalalalalalalalala installment!

We passed Mel and her big feet along the way.

[/B]

Her name was Lola...

I cannot believe that you passed this going 75mph on the interstate! Only in the South!

Borg Ash on the song reply. I started, then saw your's and it was much better. I kept getting stuck on 867-530hhhhhhh9 - which didn't seem to fit in anywhere.

That’s dang good time

is the new

Gawg forbit a million times

And isn't Mrs. Garmin da bomb! Mr. YAK got one for Christmas too and during out recent mostly offsite (but we didn't go to Universal) trip it came in very handy. Indeed. No more little tiny map paper cuts for me! Not that Mr. YAK ever listened to my nagivating skills. They hand you the map - but never listen.

Loved that you spied a rainbow at the end of your That's not so dang good time journey!

Congrat's on your new job.

Even if you have to spend the entire day with Chappie.

Keep it comin' Yellow Girl!