Sweet Home Saratoga: A Happyhaunt Haunted Hootenanny!

[1000thhappyhaunt]

It was the best of times. And...also the best of times. Except... for crashing our rental car. Getting robbed. Someone wore a fanny pack by accident *SQUEEE*. And... we were attacked by birds. All while fighting zombies and cellulite.

Ok.

Most of that was untrue. Like...all of it. Wasn't ever that exciting. Sorry. There were just two Happyhaunts along for this ride again. The Elders. And. We, basically, were fighting cellulite, the gout, expanding girths and indigestion at Food and Whine 2015. 20th Anniversary of the need and reason for Lipitor.

NOMellyman.


This cast includes:

Mellyman: My Husband of 22 yrs. He's smart, sweet, patient and geeky. Plus... he is FUN. He loves to harass me daily as do I to him. And, most importantly, is willing to remain married to Me(l). What more could I want? For a better description think of Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Of several Star Trek ahem *geek* series. Cough. That is Mellyman. Only with hair. Taller. Much fatter and burdened with a somewhat challenging wife. (Hint: Picard would NEVER!!! lol) The other thing you must know is that he wears the same *uniform* as Picard.


They're called jammies.

Heh heh.

I am maybe gonna get in trouble for that one too.


Also...

Me: My name is Mel. So... get the difference straight right now. Or just don't bother. Heh heh. I'm also Melly. But *never* Mellyman. There. That should be clear enough. I'm a picker, I'm a grinner, I'm a lover and I'm a sinner. I play my music in the sun. Actually... I don't play guitar anymore so skip picker and there's Me(l) in a nutshell. We're also parents and pet owners and regular ol' Canadians. So stay tuned for the rest of the cast.

And, hopefully, a picture filled trippie!


Cheers, Mel

 

[tabrizia]

Made it! I read the last one and remember your old reports from when I was last active years ago (okay I've been reactive for a few months now, but before that, years).

 

[ZZUB]

I'm already bored.

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

I'm here!
From the beginning this time.
I found your last report too late and totally had FOMO.
But I bet this one will be even better(ish) because there's Food and Whine.
And ZZUB's already bored.

 

[RedHatDisney]

HERE I AM! looks around? is there anybody in here?

 

[MissMagnolia]

You might...just MIGHT...be inspiring me to actually write a trippie. We are sneaking in a ONE DAY Disney visit on our way to the Caribbean by way of non-Disney cruise ship and a (*gasp*) two night visit to the OTHER theme park. I must play in Diagon Alley. And get an interactive wand. Reservations are made at the Beach Club, tickets purchased for Hollywood Studios, FP+ arranged, and reservations at Cape May. Saidly we are arriving at 12:45 pm so we must make the most of our half-day Hollywood Studios visit.

Waiting for more.

 

[nilla]

Another TR - awesome! Now I don't have to feel guilty about falling woefully behind on the last one.

I'm in! For now.

 

[1000thhappyhaunt]

YAY!!!! READERS!!!!


tabrizia: Welcome! Glad you read the last one and happy you remembered Me(l)!!!!

Tinkerbellarella: Hola!!! Yes lotsa food and lotsa whine. Mostly from Mellyman. Big 'ol girlbaby. Thanks for signin' up for this!

RedHatLady: You're here!!! Good. I missed your hat. Ok. You too!!!!

MissyMagnolia: Hi BUD! Glad ur back for another trippie. Please write one!!! DO IT!!! Yessssss on the Cape May ressie btw... we did it AGAIN!!!

nilla: Hey nilla! Glad you're here. I really enjoyed your picture laden trippie. This one will have more pics than the last. So stay tuned!!! However...most the pics are truly terrible. So. There's. That.

ZZUB: Suck it!


Cheers, Mel



Be back later with more! :tidE

 

[luvvwl]

I'm confuzzled. If you don't play the guitar, what exactly ARE you picking? Scratch that. I'd rather not envision. I am excited to hear about SSR tho. Never been. But. We're having an OLOLT trip for NY's. There'll be Melons. And me. And the respective LOOL's. But. We last minute decided (cue Disney and there cursed last minute announcement about ripping the Osbourne Lights out FOREVER) so we have one night at Jambo, one night at SSR and one night at Coronado.

I'm not kidding.

But. It'll be worth it. And the upside is. We'll never have to repack. 'Cause we'll never unpack.

Capish?

Plus I already have my paint the 'town red outfits picked out. 'Cept they're not red.

Do you spend any time at a park on this adventure? Or just Target. And. Joe's Crab Shack.

 

[1000thhappyhaunt]

Hey there!

luvvwl: SHER!!! Welcome!!! I used to play the guitar. Long time ago. Stopped at the end of high school when I realized it wasn't making me any cooler. But quite the opposite. Mostly due to the fact I could only play Christmas songs decently. Ya. Not a lot of "cool" factor in playing Jingle Bells and Christmas Time is Here at a bush party. In July. Plus my dear Dad kinda stepped on my guitar one night in the dark in grade 12. Deciding the whole future of my music career. Bless him.

Everyone picks their nose occasionally. I know that you know that I know that you know that.

Glad you planned a last minute Osborne Lights trip!! That's exciting. Any excuse to get to Disney you know!!! YOU KNOW IT.

However... a bit crazy resort plan there. I hope you are kidding. Then again... you can do it!!! You of all people. Aren't you and your new husband used to romantic Nascar road trippies where you have to relocate your town's shared RV daily in new and exotic Walmart parking lots?????

As for the packing or unpacking...NO NEED!!! I know that one extra large ziplock freezer bag can hold all of your tiny sexy lil outfits!!! YOU KNOW I'M RIGHT!!!
Here's a spoiler just for you: Saratoga Springs was awesome. WE LOVED IT!!! And... we were sprinkled with extra pixie dust there too. It may. or. may *not* have been because I changed my shirt right there in the parking lot.

Our room wasn't ready. TFI.

But...u gotta hang on a bite for all those glorious details! Glad you're here.

Cheers, Mel

 

[luvvwl]

Please. I need at least a gallon size baggie. Gotta have options, ya know!

 

[1000thhappyhaunt]

The Cast Continues:

Ok so if you don't already know the rest of the Happyhaunts...I'm gonna briefly...briefly introduce them. Cause you can always check my last trippie for descriptions. As well.


The KIDZ...



Beth: Age 20. Turning 21 in January. She's away at University doing a four year program called Criminal Justice and Public Policy. She is in her third year. She is doing really well and has seemed to have been swayed away from a career in Police Services and now wants to go to law school. Idk about my feelings about lawyers tbh. Runs hot and cold with Me(l). However... she is very serious, smart and driven. A hard worker. Not the silly type. Her father's personality. Her mother's looks. And by that I mean she kinda looks like me. But way way way better. Capish? She also is a bit of a weirdo. Watching YouTube videos of corgis makes her cry. And then we all laugh and mock her. As is our nature. She has a serious boyfriend named Alex. He is also very smart and driven to excel like her. I enjoy their relationship because I see a lot of Mellyman and myself there. Seriously love to grind each other lol.

Calvin: Age 18. (I'm gonna call it as such because his birthday is the 25th of November. So...we're close) Well...*sigh* where to start? Calvin is... well... a CALVIN. He enjoys the finer things in life. Like expensive cheeses, charcuterie meats, costly moisturizers, ridiculously overpriced hair products, gourmet condiments and *specifically* the fine art of harassment. All things which are purchased (or treasured) by Me(l), and, then are quickly captured and *GONED* by Calvin. Without my knowledge. It's all fine and good. If he would just TELL me. It's. all. gone. Capish? He has finished his college applications for next year. He is set on being a firefighter. And...I'm certain...in a calendar. ASAP. But... he's hilarious and he's got some serious cojones. He'll be a great firefighter. Brave. Fearless. Smart.

Tommy: Age 14. Turning 15 in January. He's a force to be reckoned with. He is the unique baby child. Never met anyone like him. Thinks differently than most. Is very random. Yet he's brilliant. Teachers always tell us he's got something. Then they say too bad he's super lazy. *SIGH*. He'll work it out we hope. In the meantime he likes to run small parts of the world as his own. In his own way. Like the school tuck shop. I'm sure whomever took it over this year because Tommy moved to high school is like really really really confusselled. He measures and counts to the tune of his own drummer. It's in "lungs" and "base 5". He's also the kindest, gentlest, friendliest kid you'll ever meet. People feel comfortable around him.

The General: Age 87. My Mother. Our family Matriarch. She rules the roost. Still. To some degree. Unfortunately she is currently suffering from dementia and Parkinson's. Which means that I hang out with her *all* the time. And now we're BFF's. Or. Something. Heh heh. Ok... honestly...I am truly very attached and dedicated to her. She's my General... MY... General. And always will be. Our kids are sooooo close with her. And feel like she is the best General aka Baba in the world. They are sad now. Too.

Slinddog/Dogman: My dog. *all mine*. My favourite member of the crew. There. Sad it. Heh heh.

Lotus/Lushycat/Badkitty: Threw up on the carpet four times this week. Will remain dead to me for about two more days.

The Fish: I hate them.


There. The rest of the Happyhaunts.

Nuts shell. *NUTS*shell.


Cheers, Mel.

edit: Trippie starts tomorrow. Day 1!!!

 

[1000thhappyhaunt]

EDITmore:

To the above: Some pics bonus terrible pics lol!

 

[1000thhappyhaunt]

And... I need some help here.

seriously. spent. the last hour trying to fix my avatar to my old one. IDK how to do it. I am lost.

I need serious idiot proof instructions.

Cause the little black x box thingie. Avatar. Driving me crazy. In a bad way. Help!!!


Tech support pleeeeaaaaase!


Cheers, Mel.

Edit. So angry gonna fre-ACK out. Set myself on fire

 

[tonga]

Glad to be here!

 

[GreatBiscuit]

Punching the clock for the hootenanny, shenanigans, and other various and sundry mayhem.

And... I need some help here.

seriously. spent. the last hour trying to fix my avatar to my old one. IDK how to do it. I am lost.

I need serious idiot proof instructions.

Cause the little black x box thingie. Avatar. Driving me crazy. In a bad way. Help!!!


Tech support pleeeeaaaaase!


Cheers, Mel.

Edit. So angry gonna fre-ACK out. Set myself on fire

I could tell you. But it's more fun to sit back and watch you suffer a bit.

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

Lotus/Lushycat/Badkitty: Threw up on the carpet four times this week. Will remain dead to me for about two more days.

One of my kitties used to throw up in my ex's flip flops.
All. The. Time.
Even though he wasn't my ex at that point, I think I secretly loved her for it, and now I'm convinced she was trying to tell me something.

 

[1000thhappyhaunt]

Day 1 Part 1 aka it's Buffalo. A gross(ish) hotel experience AND more meat than two people can consume!!!! We went for broke tho~~~ If we get to dinner. Prolly not gonna happen...

Ahhhaaa. First day of the trip. Always exciting. Always with not much sleep under my belt. The anticipation is too great. It's like waiting for the turkey to rest and be carved before picking at it. I always pick. At the stuffing or the skin. While Mellyman is making gravy. He is tired of yelling at me about it and these days he just walks by and slaps my hand real real *real* hard.


Then... I go add secret ingredients to his gravy. When he's not looking.

I put like some salt, pepper and a pinch of sugar in. I know it makes it better and he gets all the credit. But. ultimately. I know I'm messing with it which he would not appreciate at all. So... win. Win. In my books.

Anywho... didn't have much sleep in me from the night before at The Presidio. I basically did laundry for the trip and stayed up all nite watching videos and eating chips and dip. Like last time.

This time tho: premium chips. No shatter factor. Miss Vickies. And... premium dip. Heluva Good Dip Buttermilk Ranch. Ohhhh Baybee. Soooo good. In bed. Cozy jammies and a big Co-ACK-a-Cola. To wash it down.

Better than anything else in bed. I think.

*maybe*

Close tho. Who cares if you have to sleep in crumbs? Which I do. *messy* eater. FBI.

Totally worth it. TFI.

Here's another tip: If you eat a whole bag and an entire pot of dip. You WILL get heartburn. And have to stay up anyway.

Just makes for more Disney Trip anticipation time. all. good. I. think.

Mellyman had to work half of the next day. So he was meeting me at The Presidio after lunch. That meant I would pack so hurriedly in the morning and then go off to hang with The General for a couple of hours. Which I did. and did.

It went like this:

Me(l): Hey sir. I'm going to Disney today. Remember?

The General: What? I wish you would tell me these things before. You didn't say you were going anywhere.

(I did. I did did did did did did. DID.)

Me(l): Didn't I? Geez sorry. I'm sorry. BUT... going on a trip today. Me and Mellyman. It's that exciting?

The General: No.

Me(l): Well...got you all sorted out with treats and fruit and donuts. You should be good.

The General: You always get the wrong donuts.

Me(l): Yes. I. know.

The General: Go then.

Me(l): Well... we can hang out for awhile.

The General: Can you bring me more grapes tomorrow?


*SIGH*


I'm not trying to be funny or anything else here. That is *exactly* how it goes.

And...it's fine. It's what it is. What can you do? anyway?


Then I went back and made sure I was ready to go. By that I meant: Did I have the freaking camera plus charger? And it all worked? This time?

Yep.

However... when double checking my suitcase I realized I forgot underwear. But... not... threeteen bikinis. Funny that. The bottoms could have done double duty. But I'm glad I checked.

Mellyman showed up promptly and we were off. On our way to Fort Erie and crossing the bridge. AT THE FLAGS: BYE CANADA! HELLO USA AND MICKEY!!!


It's a ritual. Me and the kids yell it loudly as we pass the flags. Mellyman cringes. All good. Then we headed to a lil detour then our hotel for the nite. Because our flight was 8:30am the following day and Mellyman had a date at a Walmart in the area to pick up some deep frying pot thingie that is SO big you can't get it in Canada. He preordered it and was so excited. Because we have a burner which stands alone on the deck...huge burner... but for the amount of chicken wings and fries we need to get in it for all the happyhaunts and co. We required a HUGE pot. Like... to feed ZZUB. Greasy fried food. God bless him... and it can cook like 5 lbs of wings or fries (or 10 lbs of deep fried bacon) at one time. A ZZUBie WWUBie BBUBie appetizer. Before watching BAMA play soccer. prolly... poorly. And combing his back before bed.

But roll tide anywho.

Heh heh.

Then~ off to the American liquor store where Mellyman gets all teared up at the prices. Of vodka, tequila and scotch.

I never get to buy anything cause there is a quota per human adult of what you can bring across the border into Canada. And this shopping is *all* Mellyman's treats.

Then we headed to our hotel. This time Days Hotel. I checked it out on Tripadvisor. Sounded decent. But... when we checked in it was sketchy. Dodgy. And kinda gross. The lobby and the check in were nice. BUT... the room itself. Not so good. And we had a phone *almost* as old as at The Presidio. Cream coloured and push button dial system. There was one robe hanging in the closet that looked like Zombies had got to it first. And sucked all the cotton blood out of it.

Ok. We were stayin' tho.

No choice. I'm fine with bedbugs. Apparently... I've got the Valtrex and... it's all about suppression. I don't why I just remembered that lil jokey poo right now? But I did. And it's funny. So there u go.


Then... off to WEGMANS sweet WEGMANS!!! (Suck it Sher!) Heh heh.

Where I bought Fluffernutter, Nutterbutters, more Chiavetta's Marinade (NOCalvin aka Chiavetta...another nickname tfi), Combos, Fritos Honey BBQ Twists, Good Seasons Italian dressing packages, strange cereals, cookies of gloriousnessishness, cream of shrimp soup and meat in a jar. Meat in A JAR!!!


Do DA! Do DA!



SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO FUN!!!!

Mellyman walked behind me. Bored. And defeated... looking like he was walkin' the plank.

Poor Mellyman.

But... he's gonna buck up. Because, I had planned a HUGE surprise for him this nite. HUGE and I think totally unexpected.

YESSSSS!


*SEX*


Heh heh.


No. Not that Heh Heh.

However... he thot we were to be eating dinner at The Cheesecake Factory. He thot that because that's what I sad. I sad it.

But... really I made a plan which I knew was gonna make him cry with happiness. TEXAS DE BRAZIL!!!! Walden Galleria Mall.


Baybeee!!!

Kinda like a pre-test for his Food and Whine trip.


I gotta see if my man has the boots. Or not.


Cheers, Mel.


Edit: Next chapter is strictly NON-VEGAN. Beware. Or not. I don't trust vegans anyway.



Edit more: I've decided that I hate Buffalo. TBH. Except for the Galleria Mall and WEGMANS. Because... it seems so depressing. As a city. It's actually in black and white. No colours. Like... I imagine Russia to be. And De.troit. And Winnipeg. Haiti.

You know the telling factor here????

Guess what's not *NOT* in Buffalo???? NOT~~~~

Buffalo.

Not a one. I saw.

They were smart enuff to either run off a cliff together like lemmings.... or migrate.

Just sayin.

 

[GreatBiscuit]

Then~ off to the American liquor store where Mellyman gets all teared up at the prices. Of vodka, tequila and scotch.

So what you're saying is, your spouse has to get liquored up to handle going on vacation with you. I can see that.

(easy people...I'm kidding)

But... he's gonna buck up. Because, I had planned a HUGE surprise for him this nite. HUGE and I think totally unexpected..

Edit: Next chapter is strictly NON-VEGAN. Beware. Or not. I don't trust vegans anyway.

Now that actually makes sense to me.

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

a big Co-ACK-a-Cola.

Could this be why you don't sleep before a trip? This and all the chip bit poking you all over?

I'm not trying to be funny or anything else here. That is *exactly* how it goes.

I love that you have the same exchanges with the General. I love that you always include them (always can mean twice, FYI). I love how much you love the General.

Ok, done with the mush.

Then... off to WEGMANS sweet WEGMANS!!!

The closest Wegman's to me is over an hour away. I love me some Wegman's. I would marry that market if I could.