Space Mountain: Clothing Optional - All done and true even if it is April Fool's

[29apr00]

I"m sorry for your loss, you and your family are in my thoughts.....

but atleast you get some time with Treyner.

 

[Stacybaeasm]

Hi honey. I hope Treynor made it home ok. There is snow down in the south. It missed us but messed up people south and east of here. I don't know if it has or is going to get as far east as Treynor though. My thoughts are with you and the kids today.

 

[princess_momma]

Hey Dawn!! I hope Treyner got in safe. Tell him and Carsyn and Baylor I say hi. I sincerely apologize that I haven't been following very well! I've been a bad Dis-friend! I just haven't felt like being around...got some bad work-related news on Monday. I regret that I have been wallowing in my own self-pity and wasn't there as I should've been for you during your time of loss! I'm really sorry. It breaks my heart.

I love that you are helping your kids to write down the memories for Nathan's wife and kids. I know they will always cherish that. Your heart is in the right place. You are someone I really look up to Dawn and I'm sorry you guys are facing it. I know how the times when it happens like this, it completely knocks you to your knees and blindsides you. My heart goes out to your whole family.

Let me know if there's anything I can do!

 

[DisneyJo]

I hope the kids all travel safely and that everything goes smoothly, I'll be thinking of you all

 

[Dizneydawn]

Hey Dawn, it was great talking to you this morning if only just for a few short minutes, maybe we can talk longer this weekend....
Baylor has a basketball tourney and we'll be gone forever on Saturday, I'll text you between games.

I really appreciated the time and I will talk with you soon.

I'm so sorry I haven't responded sooner. Honey, I'm so sorry about the loss in your family. Let me know if there is anything I can do for you. Love, love, love!

I will. I haven't forgotten about you BTW...

I am behind (again - have no idea how I'm going to WDW in two weeks when I am so crazed right now) but I would be up for either if I am not too late to vote. Would prefer a new thread, though. If going to the old one then I feel like I need at least two references.

I will start the new one next week. Just not up to it today. I promise you all though that the group that is existing...is very supportive, honest and helpful and maybe you all will get comfy in one place enough to venture there too.

And now that I am caught up, so sorry to hear about the loss in your family. What a great idea to have the kids write down their memories of him, his family will treasure that.

We will work on it next week. I also found out that the grocery stores that were part of his sales line, are all taking donations for his wife and family. Very thoughtful.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family Dawn.

Thank you. It's going to be a tough weekend. baylor was just saying how Nathan had created a person who looked just like him on the Wi gaming system and that when the kids bring it out again to play it, there will be Nathan. That those reminders will be great of their Dad but also very hard.

So very sorry to hear about the tragedy that's impacting your lives now. Peace be with you all!

I really appreciate it.

My prayers are with you and your family at this time. I'm sorry to hear about your whole family's loss. It is all very tragic.

It is sad for many. He was a larger than life guy. A true life Chris Farley. One time we were sitting at a bar in their childhood home town (500 people mind you) and I asked him how he managed to finagle getting out of a speeding ticket. Dead pan he turned to me and said,

"I kind of a big deal around here. People know me." Like it was Hollywood and he was Brad Pitt.

I'm so sorry to hear about your cousin. You & your loved ones are in my prayers. I think the memory book is a wonderful & very thoughtful thing for you all to do.

Thanks and all the prayers are so appreciated.

Dawn...very sorry about your family loss
Thanks!
I have been just catching up with your updates.....I love Boma..but I do like breakfast...well really only breakfast in Disney, other than that I never eat it. The same goes for scrambled eggs...Oh I forgot! Those were fablous! Buttery and cheesy and delightful!never touch them unless on Disney property. I think it's all the lovely butter.
Love the pictures of your boys dancing...and the feel good Baylor story behind it To go from that to the ignorant CM story at the safari.... I did enjoy your animal commentary though...long neck bottle etc. and then later the lazy sheep that couldn't bend over
We had a great day!
Take care Dawn

Tracy

Thanks sweetie.

EDIT: Well I posted without seeing that you have shared your loss here on your TR. I'm sorry.
Thanks Lisa.
__________________________________________________________________________

Loving it Dawn!

My God you are a great writer. Really. Also, now I've been able to see pictures of the darker hair - nice.

My hair is in desperate need of a re-do...thank you for saying you like it darker! I appreciate you like my writing. Hows that Canadian Beer eh?

I"m sorry for your loss, you and your family are in my thoughts.....

but atleast you get some time with Treyner.

Totally true and we had an awesome day. Picked him up at about 10 a.m. and went to Al's breakfast place...I will post some pics of it later...best place in town for breakfast...better than Boma's even...not the selection but amazing taste!

Hi honey. I hope Treynor made it home ok. There is snow down in the south. It missed us but messed up people south and east of here. I don't know if it has or is going to get as far east as Treynor though. My thoughts are with you and the kids today.

He left Charlotte ahead of the storm but they are getting snow as we speak...or write! It was good to hug him and I love it was nice to see him even if it was not for a nice reason.

Hey Dawn!! I hope Treyner got in safe. Tell him and Carsyn and Baylor I say hi. I sincerely apologize that I haven't been following very well! I've been a bad Dis-friend! I just haven't felt like being around...got some bad work-related news on Monday. I regret that I have been wallowing in my own self-pity and wasn't there as I should've been for you during your time of loss! I'm really sorry. It breaks my heart.
Honey, life happens to us all and never appologize for taking acare of yourself. I am just learning that now and I wish I would have done more of that at your age! I will say hi to the kids.
I love that you are helping your kids to write down the memories for Nathan's wife and kids. I know they will always cherish that. Your heart is in the right place. You are someone I really look up to Dawn and I'm sorry you guys are facing it. I know how the times when it happens like this, it completely knocks you to your knees and blindsides you. My heart goes out to your whole family.

Let me know if there's anything I can do!

Just pray for peace for everyone involved. It is going to be a huge service and pretty emotional. Nathan made friends everywhere and with everyone. He was lucky in this life to be loved and love back.

I hope the kids all travel safely and that everything goes smoothly, I'll be thinking of you all

Thanks Jo a lot.


Here is a few pictures of Nathan so you at least have a face to go with the person I have talked so much about this week.

- Nathan with his best friend (beer holder) cousin (red shirt) and sister in law. That smile was a gift to us all.

 

[winkers]

the guy in the red shirt looks like Jay Leno..

 

[Dizneydawn]

the guy in the red shirt looks like Jay Leno..

You made my day. I can't wait to tell him!

 

[whogirl'smom]

Dawn, I'm so sorry about the kids' cousin--I just got caught up here. Everyone have a safe weekend of travel.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

I'm terribly sorry for your family's loss! It sounds like you all have some wonderful memories and I think it's great your plans to share them. Enjoy your short time with Treyner.
I wish you all peace.

 

[DONTMINDME]

keep your family around you and envelope them with love you have a gift of sharing and it brings people together and helps heal the pain, You are a very special type of person who can make people feel better and you use it well. I thank you for including us in you gift and the family will benefit from it and you. In my prayers!

 

[Millie12591]

keep your family around you and envelope them with love you have a gift of sharing and it brings people together and helps heal the pain, You are a very special type of person who can make people feel better and you use it well. I thank you for including us in you gift and the family will benefit from it and you. In my prayers!

Well said, sweet lady.

 

[MEK]

Hi Dawn -

I am trying to speed read to keep up. I have been off the boards for about a week. I am so sorry to hear about Nathan. I did not read the details of his passing, but I am so sorry for your's and your family's loss. (Please, if you care to, click on John's song in my siggie. It is really the best way that I can think of to say something positive about such immense grief).

I really enjoyed your AK update. I read it yesterday at work, but without the pictures.....well, that's why I looked you up first thing this morning. Your kids have such an awesome glow about them. They look like they should be in a commercial. What great pictures of the dancing! I am heading off to work again now, but just wanted to stop by and say "Hi". I hope everything went well yesterday.

 

[Dizneydawn]

Mek - That was the most perfect song. You have talent straight from God. If I could even carry a tune I would be happy.

Simply beautiful.

 

[bluechic03]

I just read your updates and I am so sorry for your loss It's the worst to lose a family member, especially someone so young with so much to lose. We lost my husband's 15 yr old cousin this year and it was one of the worst things I've ever been through. I truly wish you and your family peace and comfort in this difficult time

 

[Dizneydawn]

ATTENTION FOODIES:

Below please find a treasured link to 2 places if you visit me...I promise we will go to.

First is Al's Breakfast...where we went yesterday for breakfast. The place is literally 10 feet wide. Narrowest restaurant in Minnesota and possibly the states.

Next is alocal car hop place.

Al's portion is 6 minutes long. You won't regret watching it. Let me know what you think! The place is amazing! It should motivate all of you to come visit us!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQR2FNc9P8I

 

[DONTMINDME]

I have family living in Minniapolis and when my parents visited them they went there and my dad said he loved Al's.

 

[Dizneydawn]

Chapter Five Cont'd - "All Aboard & Carsyn's Cage Fighter Comes Out!"

The train back to Afreeeeeca finally came and we entered expecting to sit by one another. This did not work out according to plan as we experienced the ever popular phenomena, “Cut and squeeze you @ss in line after you just arrived bearing no regard for people who have been waiting for 20 minutes for a train!”

So I was in the top row, all the way to the back corner and was squeezed in by a couple who were more worried about their ability to snuggle, than the fact that they had led the procession of 20 other rude people. Dan was a row down and the kids were in the front row.


Now this couple happened to be gay. When I gave them the stink eye, they looked at one another knowingly as if to infer I was bothered by the fact they were gay and coping a feel on the train. I leaned in to Ricky Ricardo who was closest to me. We were close in proximity and close in the fact his tukkus was resting against my leg because his hip was turned out as he leaned in to his boyfriend.

I tapped him on the shoulder, he said, “Jeeesssss?” (If you have ever watched Modern Family - insert accent of step-mom please. If you have not - Hulu it because you are missing out on the BEST show!)

I said, “It is common courtesy to wait at the back of a line, not cram your body in the front and break up a families ability to sit with each other.”

Ricardo could not believe I had actually said something. He just shrugged his shoulders and continued to snuggle up to his better half. That torked me off more than anything and I made myself as wide as I could. I stretched out the ole ham hocks and settled in for the 5 minute ride back.

Carsyn looked back at me first and saw my predicament then poked Treyner who in turn elbowed Baylor. All three were quite amused I got seated in the Love Boat section of this cruise.

Soon enough Captain Stubbing came on and we were ready to disembark. I was ready for Isaac and a cocktail but no dice!

When we were just about to re-enter the crazy courtyard of Afreeeca, we noticed a family in the shade, ready to walk to the train we had just left. The father had obviously been severely burned at one point. He had no hair on his head and had facial grafting. He was applying sun screen and part of me wanted to stop and say hi but we were being pushed by to the right and they were far left. By the time I could get turned around , they were gone.

A few thoughts ran through my mind right then. It was awesome to see someone with pretty severe scarring living a life with a wife and kids and out and about and just doing his thing. It gives me hope for some of Baylor’s friends who have some serious facial scarring and now are pretty shy in public that someday, it’s emotional impact will be lessoned by the love of a partner and a family. It might seem strange to have wanted to say hello but there is just a bond that links burn survivors and there families. I suppose it is no different than vets or people who have gone through breast cancer etc. A common tragedy and a common survival made easier to recognize because the badge of courage is worn on the skin and not so easy to disguise. We never ran into that family any more that day. I hoped they not only had a great time in Disney but that they felt kindness from strangers.

We voted next for food and walked over to Yak N Yetti’s counter service.
Originally I had plans for the TS version but switching to QS meant no TS. I was truly trying hard to keep the no burger rule going. Dan grabbed a table while Carsyn, Treyner and I got the food. I sent Carsyn to get napkins and condiments and utensils. I grabbed 2 of the 3 drinks and left Treyner with the tray. Let’s just say he is not a waiter and we got re-served a new Coke right away! I heard something from him about me not taking my share and leaving him with an uneven tray. Or it could have been Blah Blah Blah Blah. Not sure on that one!

We ordered 2 servings of chicken fried rice,

2 orders of pork egg rolls and 3 orders of honey chicken

which we did not understand came with white rice. Dan cannot eat rice so we had plenty of food! In fact I was originally only going to order 2 honey chicken’s but Treyner said he would eat one by himself because he was that famished! Next time I will listen to me!

The egg rolls were to die for!

The best I have ever had and that is no exaggeration. The rest was okay. Not bad but not top cuisine. For dessert we had got the chocolate cake x 2 and a lemon freeze. We threw away a half container of white rice and Baylor had to go back and ask for a Coke versus Sprite because the Sprite carbonation was flat. Other than that, we were very happy and ready to get on a ride.

It had warmed up quite nicely but nobody wanted to get wet so we headed to Everest. The CM in line there was nice and understood our predicament with Baylor and let us through . This ride still scares the Hell Sabah out of me but I love it. Once anyway. Twice and I would be hurling with the backward and forward issue.

Now I see Baylor was taking pics as well! I need to get them from him!

The kids rode again and the boys think it is the best thing on the planet to scream like girls on any ride and scare the heck out of other people. All I could hear is Treyner’s high pitched girlie scream while waiting for them below. How he gets women to like him I will never know!

We then took in Nemo. The kids voted yes to that as we walked past and they were loading for the next show! We sat all the way up in the back and the only negative was lack of back rest. Still a great show and a bargain compared to Broadway for Lion king! One thing I will say here is that Disney needs to do a better job of allowing people to leave before the show is over.

I get it if you are leaving because a child needs to potty or is crying etc. But there had to be 20-30 people just in our section that left because it was not what they expected, had reservations or just plumb wanted to duck out before the last curtain call.

KNOCK IT OFF!

Sheesh! Again, no courtesy and concern about the people you are stepping over, blocking view of or for that matter, the actors who are on stage and giving a performance. No, this is not paid as in a separate ticket but they are actors and human beings and as such deserve decency. I highly doubt if these people had paid $4 for a Matinee of “The Princess and the Frog” they would have got up and left like that.

I just wanted tennis balls to whip at the small of peoples backs. I know, not very Christian and not very nice but rudeness just gets my blaze a goin!

We left and proceeded to Dinoland! I waited in the store there while the 4 others did Prime Evil Hurl. No way Jose for this chick! There I found the Mr. Potato Heads you can decorate with all things Disney! Perfect for my niece Skyler! The key is to have an engineer degree because you pay one price per box regardless of how many separate attachments you can put in the box. If it can close, it is all yours.

The gang found me wrestling with one foot on a counter for leverage, trying to shut the darn box and I was booted from command. Treyner and Dan took over and got every single extra in the box. It was a true feat of genius and persistence. Then they did it for another woman who only had Grandma to help and the two of them were worse than I was. Treyner scored brownie points while Mom hid the son’s view of the smuggling operation for a Christmas Surprise. If this whole soccer/Interior design thing does not work for Treyner, he can always get a job with the Columbian cartel!

Once we had purchased Spud Noggin we decided to ride Dinosaur! This was the first time on the trip that Baylor’s leg was an obvious attention grabber. Throughout the day there were eyes drawn to it but nothing overt and nothing crude. As we entered arched walkway to the ride, there was 2 girls, (17-19 is best guess) sitting with their backs against the white concrete walls that are massive planter barriers. They were to the right and we were totally in their sights.

Carsyn and I noticed it first. We had to walk towards them for a good 30 seconds so it was hard not to see the pointing and the laughing as their shoulders went up and down. They were dressed in basketball attire and I was trying to see if their shirts said a team or school/college. They were way too old to be acting like that and I tried to ignore it because I did not know anyone else saw it. Carysn elbowed me and asked me if I was aware.

I told her yes and then looked at her. Now the entire day Carsyn had been odd man out. Her and Baylor have gotten much closer since Treyner left but as soon as Treyner is around, the boys are back to being best buds and I know she felt left behind in some manner. She was not articulating it but the daggers she shot at Treyner and Baylor throughout the day when they chummed up was not hard to miss. In fact I had said to Dan that we would need to have her bring a friend the next trip or even out the numbers because the boys are really close and although they do not ignore her by any means, she is not in the inner circle of them two with jokes and one liners etc.

That being said, when I looked at her, it was like a old Warner Brothers cartoon and steam was shooting out her ears. She told me she was going to go over to them and ask them what their problem was. The boys were behind us and I could hear them still screwing around which meant Baylor was oblivious. I told her to let it go, that Baylor was having a good day and right that moment he did not know. If they were still there when we left the ride and did it again, she could go Rambo on them to her hearts content!

Again, we had kindness from the CM when we explained the screwy card and we were soon on the way to bring back a vegetarian dino!

My talk with Carsyn had pacified her but she was visibly shaking. Mad as heck and really I love her for that. She may want to beat her brothers on a daily basis but there is no way she will allow any person to hurt either one of them. While we were in the ride, I was weighing the options of legal fees and what I would say to my grandchildren when they asked why the entire family was banned from Disney World! Carsyn was enjoying the ride but her mind was on those girls. Nothing I could say would detract her from the image of someone making fun of her brother. As soon as we saw our pics, she was bee lining it for the walkway back to Dinoland.

When we left, the girls were still there but they were busy on their phones so they never looked up. I was able to encourage Carsyn just to let it go and now Treyner was wondering what she was fuming about. She told him what had happened earlier and he turned around to see who they were because we were now almost out of the entrance to Dinosaur. He made some comment about being Carsyn’s back up if she still wanted to kick some hind end and of course Baylor now heard and wanted to know what was going on.

Treyner told him that the girls had been laughing at Carsyn and Baylor siad, “So what? Everyone laughs at Carsyn!” and with that, Carsyn was laughing and the two older ones went along with that guise to protect their brother and let him have a good day.

I can tell you it bothered them though because on our way out of the park, we passes "It’s Tough to be a Bug" with no wait time and when we voted on watching it or not - Baylor was the only one of the three who wanted to watch it and when they realized he wanted to see it, they said, “Let’s Go.” It is times like that when I know they have good hearts and are good people. Not just to others but to themselves and when it comes right down to it, they will step up to the plate to do the right thing for one another and will sacrifice their own wants for the higher purpose. It was a great ending to the day and I will admit I totally cried a bit in the bug movie. They love each other because they want to not because they have to and that was the best gift I could have ever gotten for Christmas.


We left with a full crowd to board the bus back to AK and head on over to the Poly for dinner.

 

[Dizneydawn]

Just a quick update - The autopsy showed a wall in Nathan's heart collapsed. A birth defect he had never known about and nothing they had scanned or looked for could show either.

Literally almost 2,000 people were at his wake last night. A true testament to his love and kindness for people.

One of the grocery store guys told Treyner about the last time he had seen Nathan. It was the day he had died (Tuesday the 26th) and Nathan was giving him grief about the way his display was set up. Nathan took his job seriously and wanted to make sure it was eye catching not just randomly stacked.

The guy told Nathan that if he had a few more cases he could have done what Nathan wanted but since he had ordered a small amount - he did not feel it would look right doing it Nathan's way.

So Nathan said, "I will make sure on your next order you have plenty of cases to stack."

Friday,three days after Nathan died, his next order came in.

300 cases and a note from Nathan saying, "This should cover it."

Typical Nathan - last laugh and never allowing you to out do his practical jokes.

Another miracle BTW - his comapny had just in November gone over benefits and insurance and had told Nathan his life insurance was too low. They threatened to drop him for coverage if he did not increase it.

Nathan listend to them and although it will never take care of his family 100% until the kids are 18, it is a ton better than it could have been and will give his wife the ability to not worry so much right now with everything else on her platter.

 

[Disneymoon09]

Great update, and I am sorry for your loss. That is great news about the life insurance, especially in these uncertain economic times. It's great that Nathan left a llittle something to smile about in the wake of tragedy. It really shows his personality

 

[winkers]

It is so good to see kids sticking up for each other, that's when you know that despite what they say, they love each other.

As for the idiots laughing.....well, I can't think of anything "dis friendly".

Your trip on the love train had me laughing.