Hi D~ and the gang. I've been caught up for a few days after being back from my trip but never got a chance to respond on here (guess I need to update my ticker)
Hi Liz!!!! It's great to see you back! I've missed you!
First off I wanted to say that I'm glad to see your dad is doing so well in his new home. I hope you and Josh aren't too wiped out from all the struggles you've been dealing with in getting him moved out of his old place and into his new apartment. Hope this weekend isn't too crazy.
Thank you! It is such a relief to us, but yah - we are still a little wiped out. LOL I notice it most on the weekends - we just want to sit here and do nothing...
Now, I am mostly working on his budget and getting his bills paid. Feb is going to be a hard month for him, because he has to pay (almost) double rent + hook ups at his new place and final bills at his old place. Thankfully - I think he will be fine... He will just have to be careful for a bit. Once March rolls around - he should be much better.
Your Step Sisters bag is just beautiful. You did a great job capturing their expressions and the colorful ruffle adds a very nice touch. I loved seeing your "Goofy" bags again. I think those are two of my favorites (but then again, I might say that about all of your bags). V's Goofy bag was just so creative and fun!
Thank you! That is definately one of my favorite - it was so much fun and characters with spunk that I have never done before.
And - you are right - I love working with Goofy too... It's been a while since I've done a bag with him...
Making ADRs makes the trip feel real for me and gets me settled down so I can sleep at night.
I agree! I am a bit excited about it... We do have a lot of fun ones to make.
Sorry for all this rambling, you can skip it if you want....
As for the MBs I think you will be OK. I'm sure by your trip all the wrinkles will be ironed out and the CMs will know all the tricks to resolving the issues by then. Actually having the MB is a nice feature because it keeps you from having to take out your wallet and risk losing something in the process (I speak from experience). My DH does hate that you have to use a pin every time you make a purchase because he didn't want to touch the key pad and then pick up his tray from the QS location (he would comment at every register so they always gave him a squirt of hand sanitizer). The only issue we had on our last trip was on our second day of the trip when a waitress told my BIL that they only had 2 kids meals left on their plan. I knew this had to be wrong and we had the receipt from the previous day to show how many credits were left back in the room but my BIL (who is known for having a short fuse) was very annoyed and it mostly ruined our lunch. I just charged their meal to my credit card and got reimbursed back at the hotel that night. After lunch I went to Guest services in the park with his band and the girl told me everything was reading fine and all the meal credits were there. Looking back we realized it was the waitress and she must have mixed up my BILs print out of remaining credits with the table next to us. We should have just had her try it again using my sister's band but we didn't think of it at the time. I think the CMs and guests have gotten used to the issues being related to the bands so that is the first place they point to with a problem. SORRY for the long story but just wanted to try and ease your mind about the MBs and I'm hopeful any issues will be fully resolved by your trip.
I really do hope this is all fixed before we go. I am very nervous about it. Quite honestly - I don't even go out and read about it on The Dis, because I know it will just make me more nervous... I will start reading about it and digging deeper later this spring/early summer and see how it's going.
As for the FP+, hmmmmmmm. So far not a fan. We used it in Oct with mixed results. On my sister's trip two weeks ago we were in MK the day before the FP machines were taken out and the day after. I even got my picture taken with my old friend - the Thunder Mountain FP machine for old times sake. It was interesting to see that the stand by wait times for some things seemed shorter without the paper machines in place (I honestly took some time to notice the stand by times on our first day so I could compare them with our second visit). I'm not sure if it was a good study or not because the parks seemed pretty dead. It seemed less crowded then my trip last January which was this week last year. The wait time at Space Mountain at 10:00 (9 am park opening) was listed as 10 minutes but we literally walked on. CRAZY. I contributed that to the fact that it was very light crowds and I'm guessing off site guests were using the kiosks in the morning to make FP+ reservations and not riding the rides. (The lines for the kiosks were not that long either).
I can see where it has it's benefits and drawbacks. It's very frustrating with the tiering system, they don't have enough... and I hope they fix this soon. I really feel they need to DOUBLE the offerings... Even if they had it so you could get 2 tier 1 attractions - but they had to be seperated by a set amount of hours, it would make more sense. Then you could get 1 in the morning and 1 in the afternoon. I have a feeling though - that this won't be done, and it will be back to waiting in lines for all of us. At least, with the old system, even if you had to run around a lot, you could still collect as many fast passes as you could collect, depending on your timing. Grrr... I can complain all I want to, and it just won't make a difference.
I'm really curious to see how the new FP+ system works out. I know for us the limit of only getting one FP+ per ride per day would be a real bummer. I'm also afraid that folks who normally wouldn't get multiple FPs because they are not big riders will be getting 3 FPs for attractions just because they have to get 3. I do have a feeling that the ability to switch FP times will not function as hoped. I tried to change one of our MK FP+s to a different attraction at around 12:30 on that low crowd day and there were only two choices left - I think small world and philharmagic for much later in the day. We were a party of 7 so I'm not sure if that was a factor or not. We didn't end up using our originally scheduled FP+s and now that I think about it I didn't bother to cancel them because I didn't think about it and I didn't want to be bothered with the app (I'm riding around the MK on this big steam engine enjoying the sights, I don't want to be messing with my phone).
I donn't blame you... Those are some good thoughts and I wish Disney would consider this. It just seems like they have such a flawed system now and they are not willing to change anything. I am sure that all of it fits into their "grand scheme" at some point, but for right now - it really sucks.
Even after all my worries with the FP+ (I was totally stressing out about it before the trip with my sister) we still had a great time. I do think you will need to consider your FP+ choices in advance and not count on changing them once you are in the parks.
Thank you Liz, for taking the time to really type this out for me. I kind of "know" what we are going to FP in each park... I think that MK will be the hardest for us... Especially since we only have 1 day planned there at the moment.
My guess, is that we will FP Splash... Ride Space Mtn right away, as many times as we can... Then, of course, there's the Mine ride that will be open by then... So we'll have to try to get in on that one too...
It's just going to suck and there is no way around it.
And D~, thanks for sharing the pictures of your mom. WOW - 11 kids!!! What a nice way to celebrate her life.
Thank you, I loved sharing pictures of her. Yup - 11 kids... All of which had at least 6 children of their own (except my mom)... In 2010 was my Grandma's 90th birthday... Many of the grandchildren made it home for the celebration... Here's a photo of many of us and the great-grandchildren... Of course... Many more have been added since. I am right behind my Grandma in black... Alli is on the far right... And Victoria is a couple rows in front of my Grandma a little to the left of her.
No problem. I'm glad you found my post and replied to it
Of course I did...
Thanks It is a long trip and it feels even longer now when it's winter and dark outside for the most part while we are driving. We think we will have daylight from around 10.30am until 3pm. That means we will still have a lot of driving in the dark. We are driving my car and it is old so it's not that fun to drive on long trips with it anymore.
I am sure it's not a fun trip at all, especially having to make most of it in the dark... I"ll be thinking of you, and praying you have safe travels.
Last year we went to Rome in November/December. It was a nice trip, but I really missed going to London before Christmas. So already then I said that in 2014 I want to go to London before Christmas as we usually do.
London at Christmas just sounds so - well - Christmassy...
I bet it's beautiful.
If you ever come to Europe please let me know and maybe we can meet somewhere in Europe. That would have been so fun even if it's just a short meet.
You KNOW I would - for sure! I wouldn't miss an opportunity to meet you!
Sounds like your training plan and eating plan is going well. Keep up the good work
It is going very well, better than I expected it would. Which is good - after so many months of being stalled (my own fault) - it really feels great to be seeing progress. And in my opinion - I am really in high gear now... I don't know how long it will last - but I will take it. LOL
So many nice pictures you have of your mother. That's a good thing to have to remeber her. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for enjoying them. :
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Happy Birthday to your Mom! The pictures are wonderful.
Thank you Tess!
I lost my mom when I was young too - actually younger than you were. She has a landmark birthday coming up this year too - she would have been 90 in July. She was one of 5 - the middle child, just like me! I have one aunt left (my godmother) and her birthday is next week - she will be 79.
I am so very sorry for your loss Tess... I know, as the years go by, it seems to get easier for me. But that doesn't mean I don't miss her... It's always tough around Christmas, because we buried her on Christmas Eve day - as the years go by though, it does get easier, and I've managed to make Christmas Eve Day into something special for our family. Many hugs to you. :
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I have been Mia for a while so I missed a lot! Instead of trying to catch up I am just going to jump right in!
Welcome back! I hope everything is OK. I do need to stop by your PTR and check in on you. Have you done an update?
First, what weight loss plan are you doing? It sounds great! And please share your stroganoff recipe! I love beef stroganoff and have tried some healthier versions but never with any luck.
I am doing Primal... Which is essentially Paleo, but you can eat dairy. Here's a link for more info if you want to read more about it -
www.marksdailyapple.com (I highly recommend reading some of the success stories on his blog - amazing!) It is going very well, and I love it! I love it so much - that I don't even think of it as "dieting", I could seriously eat like this forever. And I love that there are NO processed foods allowed - which is right in line with my own beliefs of eating as naturally as I can.
I just used the classic Betty Crocker Beef Stroganoff recipe I usually use, but I edited a few of the ingredients.
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds beef sirloin steak
1/2 inch thick 8 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced (2 1/2 cups)
2 medium onions, thinly sliced
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1/4 cup butter or margarine (I used butter)
1/2 C Ketchup (I used 1/2 can natural tomato sauce & a splash of white vinegar)
1 1/2 cups Progresso® beef flavored broth (from 32-ounce carton) (I used water and salt instead)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup Gold Medal® all-purpose flour (I always use corn starch - but I don't think it's "Primal")
1 1/2 cups sour cream (I used plain Greek Yogert instead - more protein)
3 cups hot cooked egg noodles
Directions
1. Cut beef across grain into about 1 1/2x1/2-inch strips.
2. Cook beef and garlic in butter in 10-inch skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until beef is cooked.
3. Stir in 1 cup of the broth,, ketchup, the salt and Worcestershire sauce. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer 15 minutes.
4. Stir in Onion and Mushrooms and cook an additional few minutes until they are tender.
5. Stir remaining 1/2 cup broth into flour; stir into beef mixture, heat to boiling, stirring constantly until sauce thickens. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir in sour cream; heat until hot (do not boil). Serve over noodles.
This is the recipe I've used for years - it's very good! I was so happy that I was able to edit it, with out anyone noticing, and we were all able to eat it (except Alli, of course).
Also, sorry about the loss of your mom. It is hard loosing a parent that young, and a whole different kind of hard watching them suffer for so long. The picture are beautiful! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you. Yes, it was hard... and I don't mean to sound flippant about it - but her death was something that my whole family prepared me for during my entire childhood. Which is good and bad. Good, because it wasn't a surprise when it happened, but bad, because I never allowed myself to get very close to her, because I knew she was going to die. However, just because I wasn't as close to her as I could have been - she was my Mom and I loved her very, very much - I've lived much of my adulthood regretting my childhood subconscious decision to protect myself, rather than to let myself be hurt & get to know her like I could have.
I've also spent much of my adulthood trying to capture the things about her that I never learned, and trying to "get to know her"... She was a very strong, and very courageous woman - who sacraficed and lived a life of intolerable pain, just to watch her children grow. There is no greater love than that.
As everyone knows my last experience with the Magic Bands was horrible! The whole 10 day trip mine NEVER worked! The other 6 members of my party LOVED them! I think that once all the kinks are worked out they will be fantastic! I can see them being the best thing since Fast Passes...
Having said that ...I think the whole FP+ has a LONG WAY TO GO! It is almost like they had a half good idea and ran with it without thinking it through! Some of the 'rumors' I am hearing about it makes me sad.
When you add that to the new
DAS...well it was a perfect storm.
I am positive that by the time of your trip the kinks will be worked out enough that you won't have the problems that I had...in fact, I am pretty sure those particular kinks were worked out shortly after I got back, because the particular program that was causing my issues was discontinued. I do not see the FP+, in its current form, as being a benefit to Disney. The only people I see it being a benefit to are those who are not early birds. It will provide them a chance to get the top rides without getting to the park early.
The only way I see ME using the FP+ is to get there at Rope Drop and ride all the headliners, then use the FP+ for later in the evening.
Making changes on the run was not difficult...but a battery drain on my iPhone. I can see how this could be a plus...under very limited circumstances. We normally tour during the slow times, so fast passes are not a complete necessity to have fun... so once everything calms down I am sure things will go back to pretty normal for us. (As long as the problems with the DAS are worked out!)
Sorry to hijack your thread again...but I just wanted to give my take on the MB and FP+....bottom line...MB are good...FP+ not so good...
Nini
You know that you can hijack my thread any time you want - no apologies are ever necessary.
You story scares me the most - it was the "perfect storm"... I sure hope your upcoming cruise goes much better (I dont' think they use MBs on the cruises, do they?)...
I really hope that Disney figures these things out soon... It's just a mess!
Hi! I didn't forget about all of you. I have been taking a class for work which keeps me VERY busy. I actually have homework!! Plus I have been helping plan my nieces first birthday party (which we are having a month early due to her dad begin deployed very soon)
Hi Lynee!!! It's great to see you! Sounds like you have been super busy - doing fun things and not so fun things.
You all have been in my thoughts and prayers!!
So glad to hear D that things have gone well for your dad. Nothing makes happy to see how well he has adjusted and how we'll he is being taken care of.
Thank you - it has been such a relief to me. And I am just so happy for my dad!
The new custom bags are fabulous!
Thank you! They were super fun to make!
Congrats to Sandra on the new baby!
The pictures of your mom are priceless! Thank you for sharing them with us.
Thank you for enjoying them.
The weather has been too cold for me, so I have been thinking of a warm place to go. So.......I have booked a
Disney Cruise!! Only a three night trip. We weren't going to do any Disney trips until my nephew returned from his tour, but I just could not resist. After the other places my daughter suggested we go I just couldn't bring myself to to book any of them. The only thing I am having a hard time with is either coming home right after we return from the cruise or add on a few days at Disney. I actually do have the few days reserved, but I just can't decide. And I won't go into my ADRs ~ I was asked to book them on the spot. Good thing I can change them.
Everyone stay warm and stay safe.
This is AWESOME!!! I am so glad you booked a cruise! How fun! And after all your hard work lately - I am sure it's well deserved. Sounds like it's approaching quickly though... I hope you have a great time! And get lots of opportunity to recouperate!
Thanks for sharing the pictures D. What a pretty mommy- I love pictures from the "olden days." Always makes me think of a simpler life for some reason!! I definitely take for granted that my parents are around and in good health. It must be difficult to not have had your mom while your girls are/were growing up.
Thank you for enjoying them. I love looking at them... They are so fun to see - I just love the simpler life too.
It was hard, it is hard... but I am very lucky that I've had my Dad. When my girls were younger (before we moved here), we only lived a few blocks from my dad, so he was over almost every single day... He is a very good Grandpa to them. I do miss my mom, but I don't really know any different - if that makes any sense? I have lots of other family (aunts and uncles) and even my Grandmother - who still goes out of her was to insure that my Mom's memory is not forgotten... For instance, when I got married - at my bridal shower... My Grandmother had given me a gift from my mom - it was a set of towels she had hand emboroidered for my Grandmother, decades previously. And then, for my wedding, my Grandmother gave me one of my mom's hankies to carry... Through out the years, she continues to give me little things at the most appropriate times, to insure that my Mom still participates in my life. I am not sure if this was something they planned when I was young? Or if it's something my Grandmother came up with on her own, but it warms my heart and has made me miss her more/not as much at times when I needed her.
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I don't even want to admit that I did NOTHING all day yesterday...
I sat in my recliner, under a blanket all day... I surfed on my tablet... and I watched movies. Alli and I watched "The Help" - we've seen it before, but it's been a while. Then Josh and I watched "Elyssium" (sp???) - I shouldn't even say I watched it - LOL - I was in the same room, but I alternated between napping and reading my tablet.
I made an amazing tuna salad for dinner... It was sooooo good. I've always had a "grossness factor" with mayo - it just disgusts me, always has. So, I rarely eat it, and when I do - I have to not think about it. LOL Which means, I rarely make tuna salad or egg salad. So, I found a Primal recipe yesterday for tuna salad, made with cream cheese instead of mayo! So, I whipped some up and had it over a bed of lettuce for dinner - it was scrumptious!
Tuna Salad recipe:
1 room temp brick of full fat cream cheese
2 cans Tuna (I use albacore in water)
1/2 C finely chopped onion
1/2 C funely chopped celery
and I grated just a few baby carrots to go in as well.
Since I no longer eat wheat, I put it on a bed of lettuce, and it was soooo delicious!
Today - I hope I am much less lazy than yesterday. We are in a blizzard - so we will all be staying home today. We have no need to go anywhere.
I also wanted to take a moment to mention... My Dis friend Mike (MLBC...) - one of the very few males who posts here (he is the one that ordered a bag last spring for his daughter)... Anyways, he lost his mother yesterday. She died after a long struggle with MS... If you could keep him and his family in your prayers, I am sure he would apprecite it during this time.
I hope you all stay safe and stay warm. Prayers and good thoughts to all of you!
D~
