That Pirate Stole My Tiara: The Pre-Trip Report

[2ScottishPrincesses]

Way hey....can't wait for the Tink chat to commence

I'm so happy you had a wonderful time at the wedding

 

[pooh'smate]

Oh wait, neither does Michael.

Well, I still have my own nose and do not melt in the sunlight.

Glad to hear you are back.

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

I went to the same school as Peyton and DH went to the same school as Eli so we've been fans longer than most and if they change teams, so will we. College loyalty and all. You know, the same reason we don't like the Bears because Rex Grossman went to Florida. And growing up in Memphis we didn't have a home team to root for so...

I can see your point. It doesn't make me want to throw something at Peyton any less, but I can see your point.

we get sad without Tink.

I second that!

Awww. I feel so loved.

But.

No pressure.

Riiiiight.

Now I'm going to have to read CampbellScot. Add that as number 125.74(b) to my to-do-list.

She's phenomenal. You'll be glad you started reading her.

I have a horrible image in my mind of some guy with a tool belt on kneeling at the base of the toilet, pressing the handle over and over again, scratching his head, partly showing his cr@ck.

THANK ALL THAT IS GOOD AND SWEET, this image only appeared in your head and not in real life. As I said they "checked" the toilet, which means I saw nary a maintenance man as all of the "checking" was done while I was out of the room at the conference.

I have a friend like that.
...
But she always remembers to call me from her cell phone while at a Bon Jovi concert so I can hear them, too.

That girl has her priorities straight!!!

For a long time, I thought every conversation in the world could somehow make it's way back to a F*R*I*E*N*D*S episode. Now I'm starting to think that it is a ZZUB trip report.

ZZUB's TR is the F*R*I*E*N*D*S of the DIS. Apparently.

Honey, I'm so glad you're back! I missed my Tink like I would miss a best friend, and that's no joke.

Even remarked to DH on it tonight. "I miss Tink...she hasn't posted in a while!"

Awww. Tell DH that your homegirl is back and ready to pick up luring you and any extra income over to the dark side, ahem, I mean the Poly.

And also, glad you enjoyed the wedding. It is really wonderful when you're part of something like that.

Glad you had such a great weekend!

I am really glad you had a great time at the wedding.

Congrats on finishing your class and the wedding sounds lovely! Looking forward to pics!

I'm so happy you had a wonderful time at the wedding

Wow, such a warm welcome back to the DIS. Thank you all.

And the wedding was truly wonderful. I still can't explain it properly without getting all soppy and teary and messy. I uploaded some of the pics from my camera this morning but they're all on my laptop. Maybe I can get you all an update on that tonight. My mom has some really amazing pictures on her camera too, so I'm hoping to get my hands on her memory card too.

 

[askelton]

Research Methods quanitative paper tonight: 'Media Ideals: The Perceived Effect of Media on the Body Image of Adult Men and Women.'

What?!

I promise to share some details and some pics from this weekend and get you guys an update ASAP.

waiting

 

[bigDISdaddy]

I am very late to this thread, but better late than never.


"Oh, and for everyone, this is totally but go see '21'. We saw it this past weekend. It was excellent."
( I apparently don't know how to do the little reply , and have it highlighted thing, sorry)

I read the book, bringing down the house, (it is autograghed by Jeff Ma , the real life person the book/movie is about). He also runs a great website called Protrade, for all you other sports addicted DH/DW's out there.

BTW I have enjoyed reading you PTR , very nice work.

 

[Pollito916]

I followed your link over from ZZUB's trippie and you're a great writer! I also find we have many things in common - including a love of shoes and intense hatred of bugs, especially spiders. But I would never kill a spider with a shoe for two reasons:

1. My shoes aren't big enough and I would have to be too close to the spider to kill it
2. I don't want spider guts on my pretty shoes! I will use DH's ginormous size 12's though, if they are around. If I can't convince him to kill it for me in the first place. He knows that's why I married him. Spider-killing, and he cooks & cleans. Any girl's dream come true.

I look forward to reading the rest of your pre-trip (and eventually trip) reports. I'm gonna go check out Campbellscott's report on your recommendation - thanks!

 

[TarzansKat]

Paging Tinkerbellarella...

Paging Tinkerbellarella...

Um, Tink...

...

Just kidding, girlie, looking forward to an update!

 

[solfan68]

Howdy-ho neighbors.

Sorry about the non-updates the past day or so; it's all I can do to stay caught up on my DIS subscriptions.

Coming late to the party(so what else is new ?), subscribing, former media guy, yadda, yadda, yadda...

Oh, and loving what I have been able to get through thus far !

 

[solfan68]

You've seen GWTW but don't know the Breakfast Club? Movie filled with 80s teenage angst? Brat Pack? If it doesn't ring any bells, you must rent it. Must, must, must. Then you'll get the Bender reference.

Naked DISer walks into the Adventurer's Club. My Pal Mickey under one arm, pair of Croc Flops under the other...

 

[TarzansKat]

Naked DISer walks into the Adventurer's Club. My Pal Mickey under one arm, pair of Croc Flops under the other...

I am DEDDER than DED!

That actually made me laugh out loud.

 

[PrincessV]

Naked DISer walks into the Adventurer's Club. My Pal Mickey under one arm, pair of Croc Flops under the other...

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

Originally Posted by Tinkerbellarella
Research Methods quanitative paper tonight: 'Media Ideals: The Perceived Effect of Media on the Body Image of Adult Men and Women.'

What?!

Believe me when I say you DON'T want any part of that paper. It's all boredom and depression and a Univariate two-way ANOVA.

Don't know what I'm talking about?

That makes two of us.

I read the book, bringing down the house, (it is autograghed by Jeff Ma , the real life person the book/movie is about). He also runs a great website called Protrade, for all you other sports addicted DH/DW's out there.

I've also read the book. I like the book and the movie equally. The movie was more exciting, the book more intricate.

BTW I have enjoyed reading you PTR , very nice work.

Glad you like it. I mean really, it's better than you saying, "Hey. I've been reading your pre-trip report. It's mediocre."

I followed your link over from ZZUB's trippie

There is much less pee/poo/sweat/vomit talk on this thread. Promise.

a love of shoes

Funny, I say love. BF says money-sucking obsession.

Paging Tinkerbellarella...

Paging Tinkerbellarella...

Um, Tink...

...

Just kidding, girlie, looking forward to an update!

I know you are. So am I.

It's on its way. It's half written. The issue is the pictures. They haven't been uploaded to Photobucket yet. I blame Photobucket. Let's all blame Photobucket.

media guy, yadda, yadda, yadda...

You male DISers. You're a rare breed. I swear, you should all be on the Endangered Species list. Maybe we can help save you guys be buying pins at AK. Or doing that $0.07 a day thing with Suzanne Sommers.

Naked DISer walks into the Adventurer's Club. My Pal Mickey under one arm, pair of Croc Flops under the other...

To say you rock would be an understatement. Consider yourself understated.

As I mentioned to TK, the next update's just about done. It's wedding-related but not Disney related. It will be followed by a short-ish trip related report. Then, God and BF willing, the Chap o' Sap will be published sometime this weekend.

 

[OHDisneyDaddy77]

Just finished reading and can't wait for more.
Have been thinking of starting my own PTR and you have inspired me to do so.

 

[willwriteforears]

She’s seen all the classics
She knows every line
Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink
Even Saint Elmo’s Fire
She rocked out to wham
Not a big Limp Bizkit fan
Thought she‘d get a hand
On a member of Duran Duran

Bruce Springstein, Madonna
Way before Nirvana
There was U2 and Blondie
And music still on MTV
Her two kids in high school
They tell her that she‘s uncool
Cuz she's still preoccupied
With 19, 19, 1985

People have probably commented on this umpteen times since I found this PTR late (but hello, and it's great!) but huzzah for Bowling for Soup!

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

So, as has been mentioned approximately 19.748 times in this here pre-trip report, I had the honor of being Maid of Honor (MOH – don’t you love how we abbreviate everything on the DIS!?) in a good friend’s wedding this past weekend. It truly was a magnificent day.

I would say it was a truly magnificent experience on the whole, but that would be called lying.

In all honesty, this wedding caused me much stress. For a number of reasons, none of which, thankfully, had anything to do with my friend being a bridezilla. Because she was not. Except about the shoe thing. But that could’ve been me. I’m a tad shoe-sensitive. But other than that she was a peach.

I guess the biggest issue was that all of the MOH duties fell during a rather strenuous, tedious, any-other-ous-word semester at school. Oh. And the expense. While I don’t regret a penny spent, I spent a lot of pennies.

Probably over 100,000 pennies.

All of those Abraham Lincolns waved sadly at the ‘Disney Fund’.
And the ‘Lapu Lapu Fund’.
And the ‘Holy Carp how positively HOT are those BCBG heels?! Fund’.

But again, every penny was worth it. I loved my dress. I loved my shoes (mostly-ish). The bridal shower was a hit (though I swear I will never make favors again – next time I’m doing what I did for the baby shower for my godson: making a donation to a worthy cause in everyone’s name). The bachelorette party was the bomb. Diggity. My nails are new. My hair is cut, highlighted and was perfect on the wedding day. My toes are all cute and shiny. My makeup made me feel like a supermodel. And I spoiled the newlyweds with lots of gifts – the kind they needed ($$$) and the kind they didn’t know they needed (the ‘adult’ kind we can’t discuss here on the DIS).

So, the ‘weekend wedding extravaganza’ started on Friday with manis, pedis and the rehearsal dinner. Where I tried shrimp for the first time.

Yes. I’m Tinkerbellarella and it took me 28.5 years to try shrimp. But in my defense, for like 2 of those years I didn’t have teeth.

The shrimp? I’m “meh” about it. I’ll have to try it again. I was told it was a tad overcooked.

Back to Friday…

If you live in New England, you know that it only did one thing on Friday – RAIN. The bride wasn’t pitching a fit about it or the unsavory forecast set for Saturday (mostly cloudy with possible showers), she only prayed that the rain let up. Gloom she could deal with. Precipitation would be a challenge.

Saturday dawned gray. I got my hair done early and headed over to the hotel to meet the bride and the rest of the bridal party to be glammed up. Long story short, we got ready and just as we stepped out to get into the limo, the clouds broke and we saw nothing but blue skies for the remainder of the day.

Well. They saw nothing but blue skies. I had a hard time seeing anything. Because all I did was cry.

Weddings get me really, really, really emotional. Thank all that is sweet for waterproof mascara. (Except that I think it’s STILL stuck to my lashes.)

They were married in the chapel at the high school the groom attended. It’s a round chapel. Very pretty, though small. They really packed ‘em in though. The BF came with a friend (he wasn’t in the wedding party) and they arrived a bit late and had to stand in the hallway because there was no more room in the inn, er, chapel. The ceremony was pretty. The priest was fun – his homily started like this, “My homily will be like an Italian sausage: short and sweet.” (The groom and his family is Italian.)

Pictures were…interesting. They were taken at a state park in front of a harbor. As nice as it was with the sun out and shining, it was windy. Which, when sporting a strapless dress = COLD. It really seemed to take forever but we made the best of it.

After a few more pictures at the site of the reception, we could finally relax and party…well, after one other order of business – the Best Man and MOH speeches.

I was DETERMINED to get through it without crying.
DE.TER.MINED.
Right.

I made it about 5 words in and the waterworks began. But, I made it through. Let me share it with you:

“Crystal (the bride) and I have known (commence sniffling)each other for almost 10 years. We’ve lived together. We’ve seen our share of the good…and the bad (shaky smile and a wink at Crystal).
But I have to say that my favorite thing about Crys is her smile. (Full on tears at this point.) It’s infectious. It just lights up the room.
About three years ago, Crys was telling me a story about this guy she’d met – Chris (the groom). And at the end of the story she smiled. But this smile was different. This smile wasn’t just on her lips, it was in her eyes. (At this point I had to stop for a few seconds because I was nearing the hitching-sob thing.) And I thought to myself, the guy that can make my Crystal smile like that is alright in my book.
And here we are today.
And so (turning to Crystal and Chris), I wish that every day you love each other a little more than the one before.
I wish you all of the health and happiness life can afford.
And I wish you lots of babies.
Salud.”

We then hugged and cried and cried and hugged.

Then we ate.

Finally.

The meal is really my only criticism of the whole experience. Ok, maybe not even the meal. The utensils. BF and I had ordered the prime rib. Which was good enough. If you could cut it. Not so much because the meat was tough (it was ok). But because there was nary a steak knife in sight. They refused to provide anything other than butter knives to cut the steak.

Considering I hadn’t eaten anything after a corn muffin from 10:00 a.m. until almost 8 p.m., this perturbed me. More than a little. Until finally I gave up, gave BF the pouty face, and asked him to use his ginormous guns to cut my meat.

While I snacked on the garlic mashed potatoes.

The rest of the night was a blast. We had great people at our table (no head table, just a sweetheart table and we got to sit with our significant others and our friends). Crystal’s two bridesmaids are just wonderful people and we’ve all gotten so close over this whole experience. I spent time with some of my favorite people on the planet.

And I got to witness something very special and very rare, which is the one thing I regret not having a picture of: my parents dancing as a married couple.

Quick backstory: my parents got married young. Very young. Because of yours truly. They did it because they were in (puppy) love and because it was “the right thing to do”. They had their share of tough times, poor times, sad times, angry times, times when the cats threw up and my dad stepped in it on his way to the bathroom at 3 a.m. But they’ve had plenty of good times to. And they’re still together today, which is kind of a rare thing. Which most young couple nowadays don’t realize requires one key ingredient: WORK.
This July my parents will celebrate their 29th wedding anniversary. (My mom will be 48 this year, my dad 53.)

At the wedding, Crystal did an anniversary dance. It started with all married couples being invited to the dancefloor.
Then those married in the last 12 hours were asked to sit down.
Then those married for a year.
Then 5 years.
Then 10.

I stood there, so proud, eyes shining to see my parents only one of 3 couples left up there in the 25-29 year group. They were beat out by the groom’s parents and an aunt and uncle of the bride, who’d both been married 37 years. But still. Tink was proud.

So that’s about it. It was such a tremendous day. I’d do it again in a heartbeat. All the planning and doing and coming and going kept me from the DIS for a bit, and I’m so thankful for all of your patience, but it was 100% worth it.

I promised you some pics. Here are a few. My godson’s mother (and my best friend) was kind enough to play photographer with my camera for part of the night so I could have some pics. My mom, though, has some of the best ones. As soon as I can kidnap her memory card from her, I’ll have more pics. Maybe I’ll be able to get you those this weekend. In the meantime, enjoy:

The happy couple during their first dance:

The ladies of the bridal party (left to right): Maureen, Judy and Tinkerbellarella:

Tinkerbellarella and the BF (I know, I said I'd never post a pic but I can't resist...and no, I don't know what's up with the peace sign):

Two of my favoritest people - my godson's momma (my bestest friend) and the BF:

My godson's parents and me and BF:

The two Bruces - my BF and my daddy (Bruce Wayne):

I'll have a trip related update for you soon!

 

[TarzansKat]

Ooo, ooo, an update!!!!

Now I'll go back and read it!!!!

 

[Lady Lallie]

What beautiful wedding pictures! I love hte color of your dress, did the bride have blue beading at the top of her dress or does it just look like it in the picture?
You and BF are just adorable.
My parents will be married 29 years this July as well! What a coinky dink!

 

[TarzansKat]

All of those Abraham Lincolns waved sadly at the ‘Disney Fund’.
And the ‘Lapu Lapu Fund’.
And the ‘Holy Carp how positively HOT are those BCBG heels?! Fund’.

Where I tried shrimp for the first time.

Yes. I’m Tinkerbellarella and it took me 28.5 years to try shrimp. But in my defense, for like 2 of those years I didn’t have teeth.

The shrimp? I’m “meh” about it. I’ll have to try it again. I was told it was a tad overcooked.

Truthfully, I don't even know where to go with this one. Suffice it to say we need to introduce you to more types of shrimp, of varying flavors, and better consistency.

“Crystal (the bride) and I have known (commence sniffling)each other for almost 10 years. We’ve lived together. We’ve seen our share of the good…and the bad (shaky smile and a wink at Crystal).
But I have to say that my favorite thing about Crys is her smile. (Full on tears at this point.) It’s infectious. It just lights up the room.
About three years ago, Crys was telling me a story about this guy she’d met – Chris (the groom). And at the end of the story she smiled. But this smile was different. This smile wasn’t just on her lips, it was in her eyes. (At this point I had to stop for a few seconds because I was nearing the hitching-sob thing.) And I thought to myself, the guy that can make my Crystal smile like that is alright in my book.
And here we are today.
And so (turning to Crystal and Chris), I wish that every day you love each other a little more than the one before.
I wish you all of the health and happiness life can afford.
And I wish you lots of babies.
Salud.”

Alright, I admit it. I got teary-eyed while reading it. I can only imagine how hard it was to say it. The only thing I can equate it to, since I've never done a wedding speech, is when I had to give a eulogy of sorts at a memorial service for a professor who was very dear to me. Ask me about him at Lapu Lapu Fest, his life is an amazing story. At any rate, I absolutely bawled. And not only because I was sad, but because I was happy he was part of my life. I think it's the same at weddings.

Until finally I gave up, gave BF the pouty face, and asked him to use his ginormous guns to cut my meat.
While I snacked on the garlic mashed potatoes.

I don't eat a lot of meat, but I hate it when places do this. For pete's sake, have a steak knife on hand.

I stood there, so proud, eyes shining to see my parents only one of 3 couples left up there in the 25-29 year group. They were beat out by the groom’s parents and an aunt and uncle of the bride, who’d both been married 37 years. But still. Tink was proud.

You should be. I am amazed at couples who were married young who remain committed to their marriage...ahem...cough,cough...my parents...

Except in their case, it was my sister.

Seriously, it's wonderful to see.

Tinkerbellarella and the BF (I know, I said I'd never post a pic but I can't resist...and no, I don't know what's up with the peace sign):

Okay, the two of you are adorable! And what a great picture of you. Now I'll really know who I'm looking for at the Poly. Of course, I could recognize you by the fact that you'll have tied down and kidnapped our favorite pirate, but that would be too obvious.

The two Bruces - my BF and my daddy (Bruce Wayne):

Yah for Bruce Wayne! Riddle me this...riddle me that...who's afraid of the big black bat?

I'll have a trip related update for you soon!

We expect no less!

But seriously, am very grateful for this update. Weddings are wonderful and exhausting all rolled into one.

Now get back to DISing!

 

[askelton]

What a lovely wedding and such sweet sentiments for your dear friend!
I love the idea of an anniversary dance! My grandparents were married for 70 years and my parents have been married 44 years. DH and I are only at 10 so we have a long way to go.

​

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

Have been thinking of starting my own PTR and you have inspired me to do so.

I can see it now ::cue dream sequence music::

Twenty years from now, as you give an acceptance speech for the DIS Trip Report Writer of the Year Award (given to you by none other than ZZUB and LaLa), you will say, "And finally, I would like to thank Tinkerbellarella, for inspiring me to write my very first pre-trip report. She was my inspiration. And she had great taste in shoes." You'll then exit stage left to the tune of "Wind Beneath My Wings".

I found this PTR late

You are forgiven because eventually found it. You can never assume by people's screen names, so I will simply ask - are you a man? If so, next time ask for directions.

huzzah for Bowling for Soup!

Huzzah, huh? Last time I heard that was last October at King Richard's Faire (our local Renaissance Fair here in jolly ol' MA). But huzzah nonetheless. Welcome.

did the bride have blue beading at the top of her dress or does it just look like it in the picture?

Actually, it was a strip of blue (the same color as our dresses) around the top of the bodice with beading over it. In the back it was a corset-type and the lacing was blue and the center of the train was also blue. Once I steal, ahem, borrow my mom's camera, I might be able to post a better picture. She looked stunning.

Truthfully, I don't even know where to go with this one. Suffice it to say we need to introduce you to more types of shrimp, of varying flavors, and better consistency.

As long as it doesn't taste "fishy" I'm game. My mom and I have a date to introduce me to the world of sushi too. I'm a little more nervous about this one.

For pete's sake, have a steak knife on hand.

It was like asking me to eat jello with a fork. They said steak knives were a "liability". Yeah, you know what else is a liability? CHOKING when I try to swallow my steak whole.

Okay, the two of you are adorable! And what a great picture of you. Now I'll really know who I'm looking for at the Poly. Of course, I could recognize you by the fact that you'll have tied down and kidnapped our favorite pirate, but that would be too obvious.

Thank you. I have a hard time with pictures of myself but I'm working on it.

And hello?! You'll totally recognize me at the Poly. I'll have on the LapuLapu Fest shirt. Because sweetie, I'm TOTALLY ordering that.

(Hint: That's part of today's update.)

Yah for Bruce Wayne! Riddle me this...riddle me that...who's afraid of the big black bat?

Funny story, that - my parents have an indoor pool in their back yard. They live in a fairly quiet area with a decent amount of "woods" around them. In the neighbor's backyard, there is a tree that hangs a bit over the fence and into my parent's backyard. It's known as a "bat tree" because of how much bats love to inhabit its branches. Well, in the summer time, when it's warm and the mosquitos are aplenty, the itty-bitty-baby-bats dive bomb from this tree and skim the top of the pool for bugs. EVEN WHEN SOMEONE IS IN THE POOL!!! They have no fear. They don't bother me much. The more mosquitos they eat, the less I'll be scratching. My dad, however, is another story. Have you ever seen a grown man launch himself out of a pool and run shrieking into the house past his bewildered wife? No? You should, it's funny.

Now get back to DISing!

Aye, aye, captain!

Actually, I should have one trip report update and I'm also opening a new thread over on the WISH boards, to which everyone is invited. More info on both in a bit.