Stop Making Me Laugh Or I'll Pee My Pants! Go Back! I Lost My Shoe! Trip Report!

[aaaateamsgrandma]

Do you know Monday morning in a Psychiatrist's office is just as bad.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Sorry the weekend didn't go the way you thought, but looking forward to the little "mini report".

I'm so sorry things were such a bust. How disappointing. But at least you got some nice romantic time away with John.

Bummer about your weekend. I bet there were quite a few disappointed people. Hopefully you did get some fun out of it, though, which I guess we'll find out in a mini-report.

I was pretty bummed at first but then we got to spend time just walking around and talking....something you rarely get to do when you're at home and have children.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Well, that's good--it's nice to have that "alone" time every now and then. We took Markie my car and then asked him where he wanted to go to lunch. He wanted to go to the "buffet"--I assumed so he could eat salads and good food as he is wrestling and has to watch his weight. Well, he actually wanted to eat there because it is at the casino and he wanted his dad to play blackjack with him. So after lunch, Mark played blackjack with Markie and I went and played the slots. I lost my $40, Mark lost his $40 and then I came over to watch Markie play for a little bit and he ended up winning over $170. I told him next time lunch is on him!

You guys sound like us....we go to the casino with about $100 (total) in our pockets and never win a darn thing. At least Markie won!

What a bummer Lisa. My main question to you is did John get lucky? I know you didn't. I want to hear all the facts. Well, some you can keep to yourself. I do want to know about the hotel tho. I wonder if they have remodeled in 48 years since I was there.

Kathy: Glad you got your car to Markie. The rule in our house is the big winner has to buy dinner. I know tho you are like me you are glad Markie got some extra spending money. Austin won some on Blackjack at the Downstream a couple of weeks ago to.

Without going into any real detail.....yes, John had a good time. Said he had to now because Hunter will be in the room with us when we go to Branson.

I'll let my pictures speak for the condition of the hotel.....let's just say "it ain't what it used to be".

Do you know Monday morning in a Psychiatrist's office is just as bad.

I actually thought about you when I typed that earlier. I figured all the nuts went even nuttier over the weekend and called on Monday to tell you all about it.

 

[aaaateamsgrandma]

Your photobucket account is still acting weird. The picture I remember was this.

 

[MICKEY4EVER!]

Your photobucket account is still acting weird. The picture I remember was this.

You're so funny!!!!! Still haven't found me in any of those photos, huh? I was around....somewhere.

 

[mickeystoontown]

You're so funny!!!!! Still haven't found me in any of those photos, huh? I was around....somewhere.

I think you are probably hiding behind the dinosaur on the left! Probably all scrunched down whimpering.

 

[MICKEY4EVER!]

I think you are probably hiding behind the dinosaur on the left! Probably all scrunched down whimpering.

You're probably right! I knew I was around there somewhere, but this was a scary attraction!

 

[aaaateamsgrandma]

You're probably right! I knew I was around there somewhere, but this was a scary attraction!

I found it. The first one I had you were hiding.

 

[Kathy Jetson]

Sorry to hear part of your trip was a bust. Waiting to hear about the rest of it.

 

[MICKEY4EVER!]

Thanks for putting me in the photo, Ginny. Not so happy about the particular photo you picked. Blech!

 

[aaaateamsgrandma]

Thanks for putting me in the photo, Ginny. Not so happy about the particular photo you picked. Blech!

I'll do better for the next one. You weren't in a lot of them cause you were taking them. We all know I can't take pictures.

 

[MICKEY4EVER!]

I'll do better for the next one. You weren't in a lot of them cause you were taking them. We all know I can't take pictures.

Of course, we are our own worst critics, anyways!

And you are right - I don't get myself in a lot of pictures b/c I'm always the one BEHIND the camera! Sometimes it's nice to know that I was on the trip, too!

I'm sure you take pictures just fine!

 

[longing2Batdisney]

Sorry to hear your weekend event was not what ya'll expected!?! But, happy to hear that ya'll have a great weekend enjoying one another's company...Danny and I need to plan one of those soon...we have not had one since Ashton was born...
Connie
can't wait to see the photos...Danny wants to go to Hot Springs to try out the mineral baths for his skin...

 

[mickeystoontown]

Let's see if I can get a mini-Arkansas trip report posted. Doing this in green so that it'll stand out from my Disney report. This will probably be a bit short since it's almost time to shut the office down for the day.

I left work on Friday, November 13th at Noon. I called John and asked him if he wanted me to stop and get something to eat on my way home or would he rather get something on the road. Since most of the travel to Hot Springs is through little towns that don't even have a place to eat, we decided I'd stop at Taco Bell and we'd eat before we left. We wanted to hurry 'cause I had received an email from the diamond dash people saying I could get a extra special clue if we came to their store before they closed at 5:00 p.m. It takes us a little over 4 hours to make it to Hot Springs and we figured we'd be cutting it pretty close.

I go through the drive through at Taco Bell and our order was $10 and some change. I gave the girl a $100 bill and some change. She handed me my bag and change. I pulled forward just a little and counted the money. It was $10 short. I counted it three times just to make sure because she gave me $40 in $5 bills. So, I pulled through the drive through again and told her that the change was wrong. She told me to pull around and they'd correct it. When I got to the window, the girl acted like she was mad at me. I handed her the money and the receipt just as she gave it to me. She closed the window and I could see her fussing and counting it out on the counter.

She opened up the window and started counting it out to me. She did it so fast that I couldn't keep up with her. I counted it out and it was still wrong. Of course, she had walked away from the window and wouldn't come back. So, I pulled into a parking spot and went in. I told the girl at the counter that my change was wrong yet again. This time, she had shorted me $20.

The girl copped an attitude, put her hand on her hip and said "all I know is you can wait while I count out my drawer". I put my hand on my hp and said "fine, you can start counting while I stand here". The manager came over and I told her that my change had been wrong twice. The first time it was short was by $10 and the second time was by $20. The manager turned to the girl, took my receipt and incorrect change and told her that she was to give me my money right then and there. The girl thought she was going to get an attitude with the manager but she gave her this "don't you dare" look and handed her a $20 bill.

About 25 minutes after first getting in the Taco Bell line, I was finally outta there. Thank goodness I had already gotten my food or I would have been scared to eat it for fear of somebody spitting on it or something.

I finally made it home and we ate our food as quickly as we could so we could get on the road. While we were eating, Mama came over and I gave her money so that she and Hunter could go see a movie and eat while we were gone.

We threw the one suitcase in the trunk of the car and we were off. We made it to El Dorado, Arkansas (about 1 1/2 hours) before I had to stop and pee. I think my bladder knows that there are no stops between Eldorado and Arkadelphia (about 2 hours between the two) therefore I have to stop and pee in Eldorado every time.

Anyway, we stopped at the Visitor's Center in Eldorado and the lady at the desk asked where we were going. I told her I was on my way to compete in the diamond dash. She got all excited and said she had heard the prize was somewhere in historic downtown. She also told me to stop back by and wave my diamond ring in the air if I won it. I told her I would but little did I know I wouldn't even be in the competition.

When we got to Arkadelphia, I had to stop and tinkle again. I swear I am like a little kid. This time we stopped at Wendy's and got a Frosty on our way out.

We had made good time but we knew we weren't going to make it to Hot Springs by 5:00 p.m. As we approached DeGray dam, I told John to get out the camera and take pictures. It's a tradition. You go through these rocks and then you can see the mountains, the lake and pretty landscape.

John's pictures approaching and going through the rocks:

This is supposed to be the mountains in the distance. Can't see them well. Guess you'll have to use your imagination.

The lake:

Not really sure what these are pictures of except maybe the road.

Here's one of his feet when he was trying to look at the pictures he had just taken.

Up next: Driving over Lake Hamilton and arriving at the Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa

 

[aaaateamsgrandma]

So far what a trip. You will have to ban Taco Bell like Austin did when they quit serving his fav food. At least he never had to argue about money with them. Good pix so far. You are actually closer to Hot Springs than we are. It takes right at 6 hours for us.

My brother will be in Monroe Wed. thru Sunday. Something to do with the Shrine and the secret order.

 

[jenseib]

Looks like a nice weekend getaway, if nothing else. So thats the positive. It sounds like just aboput anyone could be in the contest. I wonder if they just announced it on the radio or gave away entries or something.

 

[MICKEY4EVER!]

I'm so glad you thought to count out your money before you left Taco Bell! good for you for standing your ground until they made your change correct. They should have just reimbursed you altogether and given you your meal for free for all of the trouble. I LOVE Taco Bell, by the way! They closed down our local one here where I work and I've been bummed ever since. At least I still have one in the town where I live.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Once we had crossed DeGray Lake, we hit the curvy roads that go through little bitty towns. We always have to laugh at one house because it has a tricycle on the roof of their flat garage and it's been there for years and years.

It's at this point that we always retell a story. It's not a very interesting story but a story nevertheless. John and I were on our way to Hot Springs over 22 years ago (didn't have Lacey yet) and as I was going down a hill, I could see something black on the side of the road. The car in front of me passed it and it make it swoop under my car. It was a black garbage bag and it stuck to the underside of my car. Of course, it started melting and stinking to high heaven. We pulled over and John looked under to see if he could pull it off but he couldn't because it was a sticky mess. We had to just leave it on there and let it melt off. The car stunk so bad for the entire trip. See, told you it wasn't very interesting. But, we still laugh about it every time.

Soon, we were crossing Lake Hamilton which is right at the edge of Hot Springs. A couple of pictures:

Traffic at this point was starting to get heavy and we were slowly making our way past Oaklawn (horse racing track), the wedding chappel and lots of old old hotels which were probably there when Hot Springs first became a tourist city. John's parents had told us about a huge flea market that we needed to go to if we had the time. All they told us was it was beside Burger King. While we were driving through the traffic, we were on the lookout for the flea market. We finally spotted it and it was not behind Burger King, it was behind Papa John's.

Moving on.....we finally made it to downtown Hot Springs Bathhouse Row to the Arlington. The hotel is smack in the middle of a V in the road. The hotel is the V. The road to the right has some public parking on the sides and then it goes up to a mountain drive/picnic area. We turned down that road first and soon saw that there was no parking spaces. I had to, literally, turn around in the road and go back the way we came.

This time, I turned and went to the left of the hotel. We had no idea where you were to park since there's no parking in front of the hotel. The street runs right in front of it. We saw a sign ahead that said Arlington Hotel and Spa and it turned into a building so I turned in. It was a parking building but we didn't know that it was valet parking only. The guy stopped us and I asked if this was parking for the Arlington. He said this is valet and it's $15.00 a night. I guess I didn't respond fast enough because he handed me a red tag and said turn around here and go down the block. Not exactly the welcome I wanted but, then again, I didn't want to pay an extra $30.00 just to park my car.

We drove down about a half a block and found the other parking building. This place was a complete dump. Only one car could go up or down at a time. There was only one ramp so there was no way you could go straight from the second floor to the third. You had to go all the way down and then back up. It was horrible. At least I didn't have to pay to park.

We got our one rolling suitcase out of the trunk. I grabbed our jackets and we walked down the sidewalk to the Arlington. Just outside of the Arlington on the left, there is a man who gives carriage rides. He asked if we were looking for the entrance to the Arlington and we told him yes. He pointed us around the corner and to the left.

We walked up the steps and the plants on the veranda were absolutely beautiful. The hotel had a revolving brass door and when we walked through I was very impressed. It was pretty. Huge chandeliers. Huge light fixtures. A bandstand. A bar. Tables and chairs everywhere. A little crowded but nice.

We walked through the crowd to get to the check-in desk and had no wait at all. The two older men behind the counter were not very welcoming but not rude either. I guess I would describe them as kind of snooty. Here I was in my Mickey Mouse hoodie and jeans and John was in his shorts and t-shirt. So what! I was paying the same rate as the other people dancing around in the lobby.

We were assigned Room 530 and given our keys. I guess I am so used to having the credit card type room keys that it felt funny to receive actual keys. The elevators were just to the right of the front desk and while we waited, we looked around the lobby. Al Capone's car was sitting right in front of us which was cool. I told John that we'd have to come back and take pictures of it for Hunter.

The elevator came and we were off to find our room. We got off the elevator and there were two chairs and a mirror in front of us with a sign that said rooms 5***- to 5** were to the left. That's the way we went and we were able to find room 530 in no time. The doors looked kind of like screen doors. They were louvered on top (of course they weren't where you could see through them) and solid on bottom.

It took John a good 3 or 4 minutes just to get the door open. The door was a little warped and he had to pull and push on the door while he was turning the lock. Finally, he got it open. I took a few pictures of the room before we ummmm.......rested a little.

John trying to open the door:

Our door:

The room:

The bathroom:

The windows in the room actually raised up about a third of the way. I was surprised. John held the camera out the window to take a picture of our view. Can't see much because it's dark.

****Sorry these installments are short but I need to get busy. We have clients coming in at 11:00 a.m.

 

[aaaateamsgrandma]

I think that is the same bedspread they had in 1961. Nothing has really changed about the entrance tho. Ready for more when you have time. Darn that work

 

[MICKEY4EVER!]

Your room is very charming! Loving that you can play video games there!

Can't wait to hear more, when you have time of course. Some of us have our priorities straight today.