P.O.T.C. On Stranger Rides! The Missing Chapter,,Final Thoughts,, Preview Thoughts.

[GrandBob]

"Once again, she's dragging me along, I just wished that it would have been by the hand, like normal, instead of grabbing my belt and dragging me like a child's pull toy."

"Pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop."


"We eventually stopped somewhere where I could feel wood in front of me"

So many jokes come to mind here but alas this is a family website........

Jay

So, family web site, so what? Smidgy pulled him by the pull toy and he ended up with wood in front of him. What's wrong with that?

 

[jakeybake]

So, family web site, so what? Smidgy pulled him by the pull toy and he ended up with wood in front of him. What's wrong with that?

It's the "POP POP POP POP POP POP" part that scares me.............

Jay

 

[pkondz]

It's the "POP POP POP POP POP POP" part that scares me.............

Jay

Why should that scare you? You should congratulate Nebo on his ability to have multiple... 'pops'.

 

[nebo]

Once again, it's time to check the magic mirror;
"Mirror mirror on the wall, who's the dumbest one of all?"

Wait, wrong mirror,,,,here we go,,,, I see Jay, I see Cherie, I see Marie,,,,

Nope. Last few years he played back in the NFL (Bills, Chargers and finished with the Patriots in 2005).


I saw Flutie at lunch the other day. He lives a few towns away and was having lunch at a restaurant at the mall and so was I. He does commentary for ABC/ESPN College Football now.

Also Ponzi, I didn't know you followed Football. My friend's brother played for your team a few years ago. I think he retired five years ago or so. He really liked it up there (but I think his wife preferred home). Anyway, glad to hear the team is having a good year. Go Blue Bombers!!

I didn't know he was on tv, I always liked him.

Looking forward to another great chapter. They are getting better and better.

I must say that no matter how many times I see Illuminations I still get chills and choked up like it's my first time. And as great as it is on a nightly basis, the holiday version is that much better. Walter Cronkite and Peace on Earth. If that doesn't choke you up nothing will!

I'm 4 days away from my annual conference and am chomping at the bit to get this week over with.

Nebo, I have been monitoring the weather like some kind of deranged stalker, given what you, Smidgy and I went through last year, and I am happy to say that it looks like mid 70's all week. That being said I still think I should bring my window scraper just to be safe and to avoid having to use a credit card each morning like last year!

Happy to update all of my friends here with any questions you might have while I'm there. Staying at POP again and hoping to avoid the Beach Club blues!!

Jay

P. S. Just heard my Sox offered the Managers position to Bobby Valentine. I think it's a great move. An old school, kick in the A@# kind of manager is just what they need after Tito let the inmates run the asylum the last 3 years!

Yeah, but don't forget, Tito you a Chamionship,,, first one to do that in almost a hundred years!
Hope the weather stays nice for you, I just don't trust it, going down to the forties tonight. Let us nknow what's going on over at the Animation resort, and if they are doing anything with the bridge connecting Pop yet.

WTH, your room was ready??? What are you trying to do here, break tradion of just getting to the pool when the phone rings??

Yeah, how bout that, huh?

I worked at Wilderness Lodge for 3 1/2 years, 2001-04. So a couple of weeks ago, our work team had a function to attend there in the Admin conference room. Nobody knew where it was. So I bravely led the charge and said: follow me!
I tell a girl to push floor 2. She said there is no floor 2?? Hmmm, OK, let try the service elevator, I say, maybe I forgot and it's one of those hidden floors. We get there, and I look at the side of the door and it says we ARE on floor 2!!! Heck, I forgot, 1st floor is the service area We actually need to go to floor 3.
A mind is a terrible thing to lose....

Glad you got a great location and thing are looking up

These arent the only resorts that play games with floor numbers,,,, a few miles away the Hard Rock does it along with Royal Pacific, I think lobby level is 3rd floor at those places too.

yes, but were they square wheels or those new-fangled round wheels?

Now that I've typed "new-fangled", I'm questioning if that's a proper word or just something my Mom made up......

Well, then my mom made up the same word.

some times I think you write these things just to get me in trouble!


"Pop, pop, pop,,,,"


oh, I've never seen Jurasic Park

Well, you should, especially if you ever go to Universal.

Smidgy, the poor love bugs have only 2 weeks for a lifetime of love. They don't bite, they don't stink, all they want is love..... Que the Beatles

f"Love Bugs, brought to you by, Marita."

"Once again, she's dragging me along, I just wished that it would have been by the hand, like normal, instead of grabbing my belt and dragging me like a child's pull toy."

"Pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop."


"We eventually stopped somewhere where I could feel wood in front of me"

So many jokes come to mind here but alas this is a family website........

Jay

Ah yes, Winker's sydrome.
"Pop, pop, pop, pop,,,,"

Yes, it does look like paradise. So tropical, so Jurassic Park...

Yeah, does look like Jurassic Park, how'd I miss that connection?

Yes, it was still magical! We had lots of pleasant CM's! We got sick, which wasn't so magical, but still felt the Disney Magic in the parks and at the resort....even at such a busy time. LOVED POFQ!


That is an awesome view you had at AKV!

Sorry you got sick PM, did you get ot go and see Yeeha?

 

[nowellsl]

Let us nknow what's going on over at the Animation resort, and if they are doing anything with the bridge connecting Pop yet.

They still had the wall up last month when we went. Lots of painting going on, and some 3D additions on the outsides of the buildings. We got some pretty good pictures. If you lean around and climb up on the light posts you can see over there pretty good. Not that I would of course. My accomplice on the other hand had no problem with it

 

[nebo]

So, family web site, so what? Smidgy pulled him by the pull toy and he ended up with wood in front of him. What's wrong with that?

It's the "POP POP POP POP POP POP" part that scares me.............

Jay

Why should that scare you? You should congratulate Nebo on his ability to have multiple... 'pops'.

Tulee tulee loo,, wha wha wha

 

[pkondz]

I saw Flutie at lunch the other day. He lives a few towns away and was having lunch at a restaurant at the mall and so was I. He does commentary for ABC/ESPN College Football now.

Also Ponzi, I didn't know you followed Football. My friend's brother played for your team a few years ago. I think he retired five years ago or so. He really liked it up there (but I think his wife preferred home). Anyway, glad to hear the team is having a good year. Go Blue Bombers!!

Alas, my Bombers did not pull off the victory last Sunday. Ah, well. What was your friend's brother's name?

 

[nrod]

Alas, my Bombers did not pull off the victory last Sunday. Ah, well. What was your friend's brother's name?

His name is Joe Fleming. If memory serves, he had a good career with the CFL. Unfortunately, not many people know much about it here. Some followed it a bit when Flutie was up there, but otherwise I guess we're pretty busy with the NFL and College games. Sorry they didn't get the win.

 

[Self_resqing_princz]

So, yesterday I flew from Indy to Raleigh/Durham North Carolina to surprise my friend for her birthday. I like to sit by the window so I can see when we take off and actually feel the wheels leave the runway... this time the only thing I could think of was "And we're off" except that we kept going and going and going instead of actually lifting off... so in my head it sounded more like "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAnd we're off". It took forever! This will probably be the last time I get to check the disboards before I get back to Indy... see you sometime on Saturday night or Sunday... I'm leaning towards Sunday. It would be great of you to have a new chapter up for me to read on Sunday.

 

[pkondz]

His name is Joe Fleming. If memory serves, he had a good career with the CFL. Unfortunately, not many people know much about it here. Some followed it a bit when Flutie was up there, but otherwise I guess we're pretty busy with the NFL and College games. Sorry they didn't get the win.

Oh, sure. I remember him. He played for a few teams up here.

 

[nebo]

Let us nknow what's going on over at the Animation resort, and if they are doing anything with the bridge connecting Pop yet.

They still had the wall up last month when we went. Lots of painting going on, and some 3D additions on the outsides of the buildings. We got some pretty good pictures. If you lean around and climb up on the light posts you can see over there pretty good. Not that I would of course. My accomplice on the other hand had no problem with it

I would imagine you could see pretty good from the 4th floor of the sixties buildings too.

So, yesterday I flew from Indy to Raleigh/Durham North Carolina to surprise my friend for her birthday. I like to sit by the window so I can see when we take off and actually feel the wheels leave the runway... this time the only thing I could think of was "And we're off" except that we kept going and going and going instead of actually lifting off... so in my head it sounded more like "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAnd we're off". It took forever! This will probably be the last time I get to check the disboards before I get back to Indy... see you sometime on Saturday night or Sunday... I'm leaning towards Sunday. It would be great of you to have a new chapter up for me to read on Sunday.

Hey, say hi to Coach K for me.

 

[nebo]

Hey Ponzi, taking the chapter offf? That's ok, I know it's hard to keep up.

 

[jcc0621]

So you are saying for our trip to AKL next summer bring a flashlight

Loved seeing your pics of AKL, can't wait to stay there.

 

[pkondz]

Hey Ponzi, taking the chapter offf? That's ok, I know it's hard to keep up.

No! My laptop died. It's where I keep Photoshop. I had an idea for a picture that I wanted to put in, but now I can't.

Oh, stop that cheering.

I'm getting a new one next week and hope to get files over and photoshop installed soon after... then... watch out!

I've already started my comentary and hope to have it finished tonite or tomorrow.

 

[Thumper_Man's Wife]

So far behind...and what's worse is this should be my week to slack off a little and catch up being that my boss is out at a conference...But no...I'm busier than when she's here. I hope she comes back soon!!!!!

Becca, I would have preferred you kept the Colts game on, watching the Bears was painful.

I don't know i found the game rather enjoyable, Of course I'm a Raiders fan... oh...I mean...

I haven't read a Dean Koontz book in many hyears, and am just starting Taken.

That is all I've been reading lately. For some reason Dean Koontz has captivated me and I can't seem to put down any of the books i've read from him. Of course one of the last ones, "The Eyes of Darkness" took me forever to read, and that's usually unlike me. But somehow that did not hold me back from another Koontz book right after. I'm almost done with Fear Nothing. Should hopefully finish it on the train today or tomorrow.




OK...I'm off to read the new chapter...If i'm not banned for my Raider Affiliation

 

[dance2874]

Long time reader here and infrequent poster. Back on the dis after a long hiatus and just got caught up on your last 2 trip reports. I can honestly say I have read them all. Love you guys!! I feel like I am right there along with you every step of the way.

I just had to step out of lukerdom to give you my 2 cents on the CCC ordeal. As somebody "close to the automotive repair industry", I have to advise you to take it further and dispute those charges. When the service advisor gave you the original quote you authorized only that much and probably signed a repair order. In small print somewhere it says that you are to be notified of anything above and beyond that charge. If they cannot prove they contacted you AND got your permission you are not required to pay it. (my service advisors have to notate the time and method in which the customer was contacted directly onthe repair order, the state inspector will look for it on their random checks) Its the law, end of story. My search engine is acting up but google Bureau of Automotive Repair. I am most familiar with the CA law but FL has one too.

Cant wait to hear the rest of this trip! LOVE the view from the room at AKL.

 

[pkondz]

It doesn't matter how many times I've seen it, when clicking channels on the tv and I come upon Jurrasic Park, I usually stop clicking. I've read the book a few times and just think Michael Crichton was very underrated as an author.
I just think the whole idea of getting Dino DNA from mosquitos caught in amber, (fossilized tree sap) was beyond brilliant. But the best part of the book wasn't even in the movie. That even though the computer looks for all 38 dinosaurs every hour to perform a roll call, and they supposedly can't reproduce, the computer isn't programmed to look for a 39th, or 40th dino. DUH
Don't know how they left that out of the movie.

I read the book and completely forgot about that! My TV reaction is exactly opposite of yours. Whenever I'd stumble over it I'd quickly change the channel, lest my two young DDs get scared and have nightmares. Now they're 14 and 10 and I'm still doing it! Except now after the knee jerk reaction passes I think, "Well, I want them to see it from the beginning."

Thursday, September 15, 2011 Anno Domini

Pie Iesu Domine. Dona eis Requiem. <smack!>

That morning we leisurely took our time packing, in no specific hurry to get out of here and get over to the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Right!

I was like a drill sargeant, I couldn't get over there fast enough, I had had enough from Faulty Towers.

I'm sorta picturing the tasmanian devil from bugs bunny... Oh, no, wait. A blind tasmanian devil.

Speaking of Faulty,

Faulty? You are referring to your logic, no doubt?

I had a chance to stand at the sliding doors here at home a couple of days ago and do my best Basil impression. Mischief had brought home another mouse, I think it was dead, but you never know,
that hasn't always been the case.
As she stood there on the other side of the screen door holding this thing in her mouth I yelled:
"No, no need. We have mice, here, in the building!"

Please! Don't talk to me about mice! We saw one in our garage and set out a trap for it. A live trap, of course (gots to be humane about these things, don'tcha know.) I mentioned to a fellow at work that I'd seen a mouse. His immediate response? "Okay, so you've got 5 mice... continue."

Wellll.... after giving up on the humane (Webster's definition of humane? See: useless) trap, I got good old fashioned traps. Unfortunately, I wasn't home when we caught the first one. Even more unfortunately DW was... And it wasn't quite dead yet. (Imagine very small, very high pitched voice, "I'm not quite dead yet!")

Anyway... the not quite dead rodent, dragged itself (plus trap) out of the garage onto the driveway. My DW asked the two strong men doing landscaping across the street to help her. The first one took one look and said, "Sorry, lady. I just can't do it." The other chap, being perhaps a more countrified gentleman, quickly disposed of the vermin with a well aimed blow with his shovel.

I think we got the rest of the family...

One thing about being way up here, Mr. Faulty would have loved it, knowing how he likes to shake his fist at God or yell at him, if he did it on our balcony up here it would be a local call.

Always good to have friends in high places.

Allllriiiight! Dance with me, Roderigo.

One thing though, we have a detour first on our way to AKL,

Yes, sahib. Very good, sahib. De tour is de best part of de trip, sahib.

a Walgreens in Kissimmee.

oh.

Diane asked me, "You sure you're not addicted to the painkillers?"

"Not at all," I replied. "What I'm addicted to is walking through Walgreens to get to the pharmacy counter in the back." "That I can't get enough of, I need my Walgreen's fix."

Ya know. I've never been in a Walgreen's. But after your stirring description, I'm tempted to track one down just for the experience... But then again, I don't wanna get hooked on 'em. Walgreens, that is.

All the way down the guy kept asking where our car was, and maybe I should go and get the car why he waits with our stuff on the cart, out in front, but I told him it was only about 5 slots down in the second aisle on the right.

Actually, I had considered doing just that, but after I told him where the car was and I heard this big, fake SIIIGHHH come out of his lungs, I thought, screw it, you want the tip, you can walk to the car for it.
It wasn't like he was carrying our stuff, it was on a cart for goodness sake, you know, with WHEELS!

Now I wished I was parked further away!
Like Pop Century.

And told him it wasn't far and he wouldn't need the cart after all. Lazy... so and so.

But what nearly did him in and almost cost him a hand was when we got to the car and I unlocked the back hatch, he FOOLISHLY tried to throw a suitcase into the back.

I just stood back and watched:
Nobody, but NOBODY packs our car with our stuff besides Smidgy!

He hadn't even let go yet, Smidgy saw him and shrieked, grabbed the suitcase and flung it to the ground.

Speaking of pools, after experiencing them all, of the pools connected to high rise resorts at Disney that don't seem like normal Disney, I much prefer the Grotto Pool over at the Swan and Dolphin.

ummm... could you define what would be included in 'high rise resorts at Disney that don't seem like normal Disney'?

I'd stay at the Dolphin in a hearbeat again over BLT, the Dolphin and the area it's in, just seem more like Disney, even if it's not.

One of these things is not like the other...

"No, mine is filled with signs telling you to get your winter flu shots before the rush." "And that Depends are on sale".

Nice to know there's someplace you can go to stock up.

At the guard house, of course I sat there and kept revving it up as I gave my license to the guard guy.
He handed it back to me and told us where to go but I wasn't done yet, "So, whatcha thing, sound like 1645 dollars to you?" Hey, after having to coast up to CBR and then BLT at the guard houses cuz of the exhaust system, or lack thereof, I was flaunting it baby!

You go, Nebo!

Go Nebo!
Go Nebo!
Get goin'
Rev your engine

He just stood there perplexed and Diane told me to go, so I went and goed.

Perplexed? I seriously doubt that. I'm sure it was merely superb acting. (everyone's a CM, right?) I'm pretty sure that by now the story of the two rubes who got taken with the ole 'nail in the tire and the missing mechanic routine' had made the rounds.

Now, even though our car is sitting right outside, on the same level plane we are on, and even though we didn't climb any ramps or cross any bridges to get here, we are now walking into the lobby which is on the third floor.

Once again, we have Disney Math, in action!

Not math. Physics. Disney makes you happy. Happiness makes you feel light on your feet. The amount of being light on your feet is directly proportional to how far you are from the center of mass. Ergo a main floor feels three stories higher and the numbering has to be adjusted to compensate.

Simple, no?

There were rooms right next to the main lobby entrance, would never want any of these rooms totally facing nothing but parking lot, but there are tons of them along this 3rd floor wall....
so technically, you could fall off your 3rd floor porch and be airborne for about 4 inches of freefall before you landed!
"Yep, 3rd floor it was when I fell, landed on my feet, not a scratch!"

A miracle! Right up there with the face on the toast.

Yeah, now there was some good thinkin alright, "Let's put the tallest land animals in the world on open plains, in the lightning capital of the world."

And yet how many people would complain about being cruel to the giraffes if you stapled lightning rods to 'em?

Oh yes, entering the lobby:

On a bright, SUNNY DAY!

The Animal Kingdom Lodge!

Anybody shaking your heads out there?

I immediately started to do that, but before I got down to my knees, Diane yanked me back up with a "I'll do the leading."

What? Getting down on your knees twice was enough for her?

Once again, she's dragging me along, I just wished that it would have been by the hand, like normal, instead of grabbing my belt and dragging me like a child's pull toy.

<sigh> See, that's what happens when you come late to a party. All the really good stuff is already taken.

We eventually stopped somewhere where I could feel wood in front of me,

<double sigh>

It could have been a speaker on a wall, it could have been God,

No, then it would have been, "Welcome home, Basil."

Diane did most of the talking, I just stood next to her looking clever and smart, and slowly I could begin to see the outline of a woman standing in front of me.

And how long after that did you figure out that it was Smidgy?

Finally, after all the id changing, driver's license info and verification with credit cards, we established that she was, indeed, a Disney cast member, and we got down and dirty:
(asterisk >*<)

Okay, buddy. Do you have any idea how long I stared at that? What in the heck does >*< mean? Is it an alien? His one good eye? His bad eye? What?? What does it mean????

Only when I got to the end of the chapter did the (as you so aptly put it) nickel drop in.

I asked her to make a little circle on the map where our room was.

She made a circle that covered about one third of the resort map and slid it back to me.

Ooh, I bet they're trained just that way.

"And whatever you do, for Pete's sake don't narrow down where the room actually is if there's any possible way you can avoid it!"

"Ok, you just circled the United States, can you narrow it down to the same county we're in now?", and I slid it back to her.

Perfect!

She reluctantly made a small circle inside the circle,,,,

I bet! Probably looking over her shoulder for the Disney MPs the whole time.

"But sir, this room is ready, now for you."

"Great, it can be ready, now, for somebody else then, too,
what else you got?"

Very gallant of you.

"Oh, here's a room overlooking the pool, will that be ok?"

Smidgy and I looked at each other, turned and nodded in harmony.
"When will it be ready?" I asked.

"Oh, it's ready now."

Back outside buggage service unloaded our laggage onto a cart and said they'd be there in ten minutes, we went in search of room 5634.

Are you sure about the room number? I was trying to see where you were so I looked at the map here: http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/aklmap.htm
The highest number I found was 5596 up in Fort Lauderdale. Around the pool the numbers are in the 5400s. 'Course the map could be wrong. Don't know when it was last updated.

About all I can say about the room location is that I don't believe we could have gotten a better room!

I'll say! Great pics of the view!

And the room definately seemed and felt much bigger than BLT, over there my side of the bed was only a couple of inches from the wall, here I had plenty of room to roll off and
fall on my head.

It was raining and pouring
Mustn't make this TR boring
Nebo bumped his head
When he fell out of bed
And now we all are roaring.

By now it was only a little after 11, we through away our stuff right quickly and changed to go down to the pool.

How could you change if you threw all your stuff away?

* (did you see what happened there? I made comment about Lord of the Rings, and my brain wasn't done yet with it I guess, it morphed then into something that sounds like Treebeard, the Ent, wasn't planned. "We have decided after much deliberation that you are indeed not orcs."

Hallelujah! The asterisk! That's what it's for! Thank goodness, now I'll be able to sleep nights...

Thanks for another fun chapter!

 

[nebo]

So you are saying for our trip to AKL next summer bring a flashlight

Loved seeing your pics of AKL, can't wait to stay there.

Yes, and don't forget the miner's helmets either.

No! My laptop died. It's where I keep Photoshop. I had an idea for a picture that I wanted to put in, but now I can't.

Oh, stop that cheering.

I'm getting a new one next week and hope to get files over and photoshop installed soon after... then... watch out!

I've already started my comentary and hope to have it finished tonite or tomorrow.

Not that I thought there was anything WRONG with taking the chapter off, you know. You've earned it, you've worked hard.

I don't know i found the game rather enjoyable, Of course I'm a Raiders fan... oh...I mean...

And the evil Lady H rears her nefarious head. You're just lucky you had our Mr. Haney thinking he was supposed to throw the ball to the silver and black. Just heard about Chester, wow, now that was a shame, he was one of the best.

I haven't read a Dean Koontz book in many hyears, and am just starting Taken.

That is all I've been reading lately. For some reason Dean Koontz has captivated me and I can't seem to put down any of the books i've read from him. Of course one of the last ones, "The Eyes of Darkness" took me forever to read, and that's usually unlike me. But somehow that did not hold me back from another Koontz book right after. I'm almost done with Fear Nothing. Should hopefully finish it on the train today or tomorrow.

I don't remember hiim using all these expensive new words that I never heard of, did he get a new Thesaurus for his birthday? Quick, when was the last time you used,
"ululation" in a sentance?


OK...I'm off to read the new chapter...If i'm not banned for my Raider Affiliation

Geesh, and Arizona Raider fan, no wonder her husband needs to go out and shoot animals.

Long time reader here and infrequent poster. Back on the dis after a long hiatus and just got caught up on your last 2 trip reports. I can honestly say I have read them all. Love you guys!! I feel like I am right there along with you every step of the way.

I just had to step out of lukerdom to give you my 2 cents on the CCC ordeal. As somebody "close to the automotive repair industry", I have to advise you to take it further and dispute those charges. When the service advisor gave you the original quote you authorized only that much and probably signed a repair order. In small print somewhere it says that you are to be notified of anything above and beyond that charge. If they cannot prove they contacted you AND got your permission you are not required to pay it. (my service advisors have to notate the time and method in which the customer was contacted directly onthe repair order, the state inspector will look for it on their random checks) Its the law, end of story. My search engine is acting up but google Bureau of Automotive Repair. I am most familiar with the CA law but FL has one too.

Cant wait to hear the rest of this trip! LOVE the view from the room at AKL.

hey Dance, I remember you, great to see you again

In the CCC situation, there was nothing at all written down anywhere, estimate wise or agreement on my part wise.
The counter guy took me back there under the car and the mechanic said it would cost 1260 to fix. I told them I wasn'[t sure I had the room for that on a Visa card, and the said if I didn't, they can give me a Goodyear Credit Carde to pay for it. WHen I finally said Ok, They hustled me out the door saying a guy can take us back to the TTC if we leave right away, and that was that.
When I went to pick it up, that's when the counter guy added the extra 400, excusing himself by saying he wasn't the one that gave the wrong estimate.

Not to mention trying to rip us off for a tire fix he lied about.

Now you did it,,, I want to hurt himi again,,,,,
MOE, LARRY, CHEESE!

 

[pkondz]

BTW, thans for recommending Twisted. I liked it. Now I'm starting The Long Walk.

 

[dance2874]

So you never signed anything when you initially let them look at the car? Even just a form saying you were letting them look at it? That is where it would be written usually, the initial form giving them permission to check out the car. And a verbal estimate is fine and a verbal agreement to that estimate...but he cant just add to it without your advance approval.

Sorry for bringing up a sore subject...I am just mad for you! I hate places that do business that way. It gives the honest ones a bad wrap.