Hey Jordan,
Finally got caught up here! Let's recap!
Well it sounds like an interesting cast of characters coming/may be coming. I am envious of the time you get to spend there by yourself – I’d love to just wander with my camera through the parks. Very cool that Wendy has already signed on …amazing the different accommodation arrangement scenarios you’ve already spelled out with just the addition of her and Allan – lol
No cheese in China????
Ooooo, it’ll be hard to get me there then. Oh wait, they have a Pizza Hut – it’s all good then Seriously though, the food looked wonderful there. Interesting bathroom-related facts too! Cool monkeys and great shots of the lantern festival. Cool shots from Beijing too – amazing architecture for the Olympics. How cool that you brought the kids along for the trip, even if it was “flat” style
That is great that you have some of the “younger” folks from your church on board to go! Sounds like it is going to be a well-populated trip for sure. Already planning for your 50th aye? Well don’t feel too self-conscious about planning so far in advance. I’ve already started preliminary plans for a 2012 Alaskan Cruise on the Disney Wonder (sorry I won’t be there for you, but I’ll say a toast for ya if we’re traveling at the same time – hehe). Nice score on the 4Runner – those are good, solid vehicles
Yes, I remember Coming to America …that scene where his parents get up from sitting on the couch and leave a stain on it from the backs of their Jerri-curled heads always sticks in my mind. That and Sexual Chocolate
And yes, WDW did a great job with the China Pavilion modeling on the Temple of Heaven. Great temple shots overall and way to give some power to whitey
Thank you and KathyRN for giving our disorder a name – all hail those with OTP!!! Nice research on crowds and conventions and good luck with the cheerleaders. What a busy summer you had with all of the church activities. Kudos for keeping you head during all of those long days/weeks.
Great Disney mojo on Wendy getting the BLT upgrade she wanted. And ROCKIN’ that she shared her Disney mojo by booking you the BWV room for the 14-18th!!!
You live in SoCal without central air? Good gravy man how do you handle it?
More great China pics, and yes – I’ve seen the Bizarre Foods episode on that street. The people working the counter look so very happy. Spicy Grandma??? ROFL! Nice furry
crocs 
Whoohoo for making it to the Great Wall – and what stamina you had making it up to the top of that part of the wall on the hill. Worth it for the view though.
Nice shots in the travel isle at Target and cool idea about the TR game! Fun stuff. Nice haircut from camp btw ;-]
Ahhh Scottsdale, the “moneyed” community of Phoenix (I lived in Tucson for 10yrs and Phoenix for about a year and a half). Beautiful resorts and landscaping, but you guys were ABSOLUTELY NUTS for going there in the summer! Nice choice with the Widmer Hef to end the first day. Second day was hilarious, “I’m sooo busted”
Nice segway to changing your end of trip reservation to OKW resort
More work overload – yikes! Funny that your friends from church can’t bring themselves to just say they’re not going despite you giving them an easy out. And very cool that you will be able to meet up with your old friend Tom.
Well that brings me mostly up to speed. Good for you for getting some time off and enjoying the outdoors and DTD! Nice shot of the backside of water at DLH.
Good luck with the airfare, we tried waiting it out for our flight down to LAX from Oregon and it just kept going up. Finally had to commit. Nice mix of ADR choices – I still have to do Ohanas. Bummer about OKW falling through, but I’m sure AKV will be rockin’ Have fun re-doing the itinerary! Oh, and wonderful shots of you walking with Erin
So glad you're back Mustard!
When's your next trip to WDW scheduled or is it a trip to DLR?
No WDW on the horizon for another five years or so
But DLR is only 17 days away now, so we're pretty jazzed about that. Doing the whole Halloween/Trick or Treat party - whoohoo!
And in 2010 we're going to NYC to support my older daughter as she marches in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. She will be a freshman and will be playing flute, so she'll be right up front! We're really excited because it is the first time an Oregon band (college or HS) has been chosen.
2012 we have another trip in mind ...which I will answer in more detail directly below in my response to Wendy
If you are gold or platinum
Castaway Club members (6 or more sailings for gold, 10 or more for platinum) you can book a week ahead of the general public. So everyone else can start booking next Monday but we could book this past Monday.
Are you talking about booking Alaska for 2012? I think they're only sailing May - Sept of 2011, unless for sure the ships are coming out here and doing permanent AK cruises (which could be, I haven't researched it).
That is really cool that you get to pick your room ahead of time - get the cream of the crop
As of the last info I read the Wonder is supposed to be stationed on the west coast permanently and will be tag-teaming the Mexican Riviera and Alaskan runs.
Here's to hoping they don't change their minds because there's no way we could tag-team a DLR trip, NYC, and the cruise on back to back years. Unless money starts growning on trees, that is
On the airfare!
Jimmy LOVES animals, so I think he is going to love it!
Your In-box - oh no! Do you have a church secretary? She could at least open the mail and be trained what you need to see and what she can throw away or deal with for you. I'm glad you took some time off!
and a big
uncle! Maybe there's something wrong with me, but I don't get all misty-eyed looking back
(Don't have the barfy smiley) on those airfares. 
Keep checking. Are you getting sidestep.com's daily email alerts? 
That stinks about the airfare. I'll keep my fingers crossed that it dips back down for you soon. 
I booked mine online though with no problems at all...I was pleasantly surprised. I was was expecting a lot of error messages and a big long ordeal but it was really easy.
