Sun, Shopping, Sand, Surf, Sweat & Shamu: A Splashin Summertime Sabbatical at SVR!

[ZehnJahren]

Work is so far going MUCH better than yesterday (knock on wood!). I have managed to put out most of Wednesday's fires and have made some noticeable progress versus yesterday's mess. One of my dear bosses even delivered me lunch today (a personal pizza and drink from my favorite pizza place) so I could keep working away.....and chatting with my friends on the Dis ... over my break.

I got my parking pass for September. Had it on the to-do's for tomorrow but had a few minutes this morning that I could made the dash over to City Hall, so I figured I'd take a few minutes and scratch another item off the list.

I have also emailed our Orlando cell number to all the folks that need it.

Sweetie's Mom and I have been chatting via text, and it sounds like all her paperwork is in good order (travel documents, authorization letters, medical insurance, and the like).

I love it when progress is being made!

Sounds like you are steadily and surely progressing to trip time! I would have liked a pizza for lunch myself; had baked chicken but pizza sounds a whole lot better. Glad you're getting everything slowly crossed off the list. Time will fly now; hope you have a great trip!

 

[Lynne G]

I had this very same conversatino with Steve last night. He patiently listened as I lamented "I am so busy I'm feeling completely overwhelmed....you would think I would be getting better at going away and more organized each time!". Then he just smiled at me and replied...."Sweetheart, even your organizational skills can't keep the last few days from being crazy. Instead of trying to escape it, you need to embrace it. Its part of the fun.".

Hmmm.....I think he might be onto something there

For me, even though it's stressful, it's exciting too. I won't say it can always be fun, but i enjoy the hunt, the anticipation, and well, the change in the every day stresses.

So nice of your bosses. I agree, I had a left over half of hoagie, and the fresh pizza sounds so much better for a lunch.

I started putting all my ressie numbers on my phone, though I always keep hard copies of everything. My folder is getting a little fatter with some more directions and coupons. Kids are ready for the go-carts, so we'll have a busy first day. We'll just retire early. I already warned the kids that up by 6:30am may be the start of one day at Universal. So much has been changed since we were there 2 years ago. Same with Disney, but that's been 3 years ago. Time to let my Sesame pass rest this year. No Busch parks this time.

 

[dancin Disney style]

$400 on parking?!? OMG! Jake's pass was $150 taxes included for the full year. I was actually pretty happy with that. Daily is $5, monthly was $50, semester was something like $110, and the full year was $150. Buying the annual pass was a no-brainer. Now I just hope his poor old car hangs in for the full semester....ol' Bessy is getting up there in years .

WOW...only $150 for the year!!!! The $400 at Ashley's school is for either 1 semester or the whole year. The savings was very minimal compared to the monthly rate. When started at the school she attends now she paid for daily parking for the first week and spent some time looking around for alternatives. Turns out there is street parking within a 5 minute walk. So she parks there and moves her car midday.

Did you also have to pay the mandatory health insurance thing? That really ticked me off and we had to fight to get it reimbursed as Ash was still covered on her dad's plan.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Sounds like you are steadily and surely progressing to trip time! I would have liked a pizza for lunch myself; had baked chicken but pizza sounds a whole lot better. Glad you're getting everything slowly crossed off the list. Time will fly now; hope you have a great trip!

Thank you! Excited to get through the final work day. There will be lots of clock watching today, I think .

For me, even though it's stressful, it's exciting too. I won't say it can always be fun, but i enjoy the hunt, the anticipation, and well, the change in the every day stresses.

So nice of your bosses. I agree, I had a left over half of hoagie, and the fresh pizza sounds so much better for a lunch.

I started putting all my ressie numbers on my phone, though I always keep hard copies of everything. My folder is getting a little fatter with some more directions and coupons. Kids are ready for the go-carts, so we'll have a busy first day. We'll just retire early. I already warned the kids that up by 6:30am may be the start of one day at Universal. So much has been changed since we were there 2 years ago. Same with Disney, but that's been 3 years ago. Time to let my Sesame pass rest this year. No Busch parks this time.

Change is good....it will make you appreciate the Busch parks on the next visit. Our break from the SW parks was last summer when we focused on the Disney waterparks and the beach. We havent been to SW, AQ or DC since 2012.

I hear ya on the bulging folder....my travel binder is soooo heavy. Between airline, resort, rental car and attraction confirmations, there is a ton of information to take along. Then you add in insurance info, coupons, maps, ...... . My carry-on will feel like a ton of bricks.

WOW...only $150 for the year!!!! The $400 at Ashley's school is for either 1 semester or the whole year. The savings was very minimal compared to the monthly rate. When started at the school she attends now she paid for daily parking for the first week and spent some time looking around for alternatives. Turns out there is street parking within a 5 minute walk. So she parks there and moves her car midday.

Did you also have to pay the mandatory health insurance thing? That really ticked me off and we had to fight to get it reimbursed as Ash was still covered on her dad's plan.

No mandatory health insurance for Jake (thank goodness, as we are in the same boat as you....as long as he is a full time student, he can be covered as a dependent on our health insurance through Steves work until he is 25). Some broker is making a tidy profit if they are making it mandatory for post-secondary students, though . Can you imagine the commissions he would make off that college.....wow.

So I am sitting here this morning, and all I can think of is this.......



Todays trip preparations are picking up my US cash, laundry, and packing. The fridge is darn near empty so I think we will just grab subs or something similar for dinner (that will leave me more time for packing if I dont have to cook, anyway). Had a little visit with the cat sitter yesterday and gave her the house key (she was so appreciative of the gift cards....it was so sweet), and took my mom shopping for her final supplies.

Focus today will be darn near impossible .

 

[Lynne G]

Wahoo! It's almost here!

Safe travels. I hope the border crossings will be uneventful.

It's Friday, and I am so happy the week is over. It's been very busy here too.

Ah, camp ends today, and that was one of the fastest 8 weeks I think ever.

Good thing, DS wants to work at DD's camp again, one more year of having to pay for the younger one.

One more sleep, and you'll be in vacation mode!

 

[dancin Disney style]

I sooooo enjoy that last day of work. It's always busy but I never care how much and when I walk out the door there is such an awesome feeling of instant relaxation. If no one was watching I'd probably skip all the way to my car.

Skip Gina, skip!!!!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Wahoo! It's almost here!

Safe travels. I hope the border crossings will be uneventful.

Thank you! The border is always a big variable. Here's to short lines and an agreeable agent .

I sooooo enjoy that last day of work. It's always busy but I never care how much and when I walk out the door there is such an awesome feeling of instant relaxation. If no one was watching I'd probably skip all the way to my car.

Skip Gina, skip!!!!

Dancin', you are a riot .

You can almost picture it, can't you?

"Breaking news: a middle-aged woman was arrested without incident today in the Friendly City around 4 pm for suspicion of public intoxication after she was seen skipping from an office building in the downtown core. When she refused to stop smiling and stay still for the responding officers, she was taken to hospital for a comprehensive phychiatric review. Stay tuned for more updates at 6."

 

[Inhislove]

You guys are a riot. I love your "news" story.

With our four littles, we would not be doing disney yet if we didn't live in central Florida. We are so excited about checking in next Thursday to Grande Vista and leaving normal life behind. I'm still trying to figure out how to handle being out of town but not totally out of reach. We are ready for some full on time with the family!

My husband has been crazy with his job, and I just tell him he's trying to earn his vacay. It is inevitable before a two week vacation, because you are squeezing extra in all over.

It is all worth it for the relieved feeling of "I'm on vacation with my most- loved people in the world!"

 

[Gr8t Fan]

Happy & safe travels to you all!!!! Looking forward to reading your updates.

 

[pigletto]

IT's ALMOST HERE!!!!!

I am so excited for you. Go forth and vacation Bobina family!!

 

[grantclaire]

Have a great trip! Keep us updated if you have time.

 

[ZehnJahren]

If I don't get back here before you leave - HAVE A GREAT TRIP and make lots of wonderful memories to look back on in the future!

 

[dancin Disney style]

"Breaking news: a middle-aged woman was arrested without incident today in the Friendly City around 4 pm for suspicion of public intoxication after she was seen skipping from an office building in the downtown core. When she refused to stop smiling and stay still for the responding officers, she was taken to hospital for a comprehensive phychiatric review. Stay tuned for more updates at 6."

You know that sums me up rather well. I do need a phych evaluation and I probably should be arrested. I'm sort of over the public intoxication but I could be easily convinced to give it another try.

Stay in touch over the next week and prehaps we can get together down south.

 

[sympatico]

Hope you have a great trip, Gina. Will be watching for your trip report.

 

[dennise]

Gina I hope you and the family have a wonderful vacation, good weather, good food and good times. I will be waiting to hear about your adventures. thanks to you I feel like I almost know all the people who have been following your report. I even see some fellow Nova Scotians here.

 

[The Fab Four]

Have a safe trip Gina and family and Sweetie. We'll look for you in 1 week when we check into SVR. Use some of your good vibes to bring us all good weather and short lines for our trip.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

It is all worth it for the relieved feeling of "I'm on vacation with my most- loved people in the world!"

Amen, sister!

Happy & safe travels to you all!!!! Looking forward to reading your updates.

IT's ALMOST HERE!!!!!

I am so excited for you. Go forth and vacation Bobina family!!

Have a great trip! Keep us updated if you have time.

If I don't get back here before you leave - HAVE A GREAT TRIP and make lots of wonderful memories to look back on in the future!

Hope you have a great trip, Gina. Will be watching for your trip report.

Gina I hope you and the family have a wonderful vacation, good weather, good food and good times. I will be waiting to hear about your adventures. thanks to you I feel like I almost know all the people who have been following your report. I even see some fellow Nova Scotians here.

Thanks everyone! I will be sure to check in and give you a brief update here and there. I tend to be the first up every morning, and will enjoy some quiet time on the Dis while I kick back with my Tim Hortons coffee and enjoy the view from the balcony.



(Ah.......I can hardly wait to get there!)

You know that sums me up rather well. I do need a phych evaluation and I probably should be arrested. I'm sort of over the public intoxication but I could be easily convinced to give it another try.

Stay in touch over the next week and prehaps we can get together down south.

I would love that! Something tells me you and I would get along well .

Have a safe trip Gina and family and Sweetie. We'll look for you in 1 week when we check into SVR. Use some of your good vibes to bring us all good weather and short lines for our trip.

The weather looks pretty darn fab so far.....hot, hot, hot! (the 27th is forecasted to be a high of 98 and thats with no humidity factored in!!) http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/orlando-fl/32801/august-weather/328169 . But after freezing my buns off the last few days here at home, I wont be complaining. At least there is no sign of a hurricane for the time being .

Safe travels to you and your family as well. Hopefully we will bump into each other somewhere around the Fountains pool!!!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Well, I am happy to report that I managed to get quite a bit done today. Every item on the to-do list got scratched off, and without a whole lot of stress or drama (definitely not my normal...perhaps I really AM getting better at this as time goes on ). I even carved out an hour or so to give my gardens a good weeding and tidy (they had been woefully ignored for the past week or so...and it was starting to show) and Steve got the lawn all cut this evening (despite working a 12.5 hour day).

The cat is currently curled up at my feet as I lounge on the bed. She discovered the luggage in the rec room a couple of nights ago, and seems to sense that there is something coming. She has been a little extra cuddly ever since...or maybe its just my imagination, a product of my guilt. My poor girl. She is going to miss her Momma for the next two weeks.

We are 99% packed, and I have laundry in the dryer as we speak. Tomorrow will be a complete housecleaning, final laundry, print our boarding passes, then we hope to be on the road by lunchtime . I am setting the alarm for 6 am so I can get an early start.

Ugh. 6 am. Not my favourite hour on a Saturday morning!!!

 

[Lynne G]

Have a good night! Glad you got all in order.

I too like to sleep in on the week-ends. On Sunday, DH is helping with the special races for injured soldiers. He wants me to set the alarm for 4 am. Ok, that will be a good trial run for our 4:30am start on our travel day.

Give that fur ball a hug for me, and maybe we can meet up next week.

Oh, and guess what DD got as a thank you for her work at camp? Wawa gift card. Thanks to you, we know where she can use it on vacation.

 

[crazyfordisney2000]

Have a fantastic trip Gina!!!! Safe travels for you and your family!

We are just heading out now, it's 5:15 am to the Rochester airport!

Woohoo!!!!!!!