The ABC's of Trip Planning, Pt 1- K is for Keeping Things Kooky- Drinks V-Z; pg. 197 + New Link

[franandaj]

Good luck on your exam!

Have an creative W photos you wanna share??

Well it's not very creative, but I think this qualifies...

 

[franandaj]

Or how about this one?

 

[Steppesister]

You crack me up, Alison!! Please at least tell me this was a Disney Washer and Dryer.

Meanwhile, I'm just over here like... Wah, Wah, Wah.

 

[Steppesister]

No "W" photos are complete without:

Stunning! Very inviting.

 

[KathyM2]

Hope everything goes well!!

 

[pkondz]

It's been a stupidly crazy couple of weeks, and every time I think the toughest part is over... it's just not.

Ouch. Sorry to hear that.

I've been filling it up with some family needs that have gone neglected for WAY too long.

To heck with them! Be selfish! Let 'em fend for themselves! Sink or swim! Every man for hims......


Nevermind. Forgot you were a Mom there for a second.

Remember that broken wrist and elbow last year?? It's hurting again, and colder than the other hand, and numb and tingling... so Zach gets to spend 45 minutes in an MRI machine at 7:00 AM tomorrow.

Oh geez. Hope all goes well.

Today we spent 4 hours commuting up to Portland (usually a 1 hr trip each way) for an endocrinologist appt.

And even more fun! Why the long (longer) commute?

Things are just too busy, too stressful, and too much.

I'm sorry to hear that Liesa. Deep breaths. Deeeep breaths.

I put in for an LOA at work last night, and asked not to be called until April 1st.

Whoa.
If you need it you need it. And good for you in recognizing that.

The stress isn't getting any better, so something had to give.

And better that than some of the decidedly unhealthy alternatives.

Now I won't have to feel pressure and guilty when those "can you work" texts come my way.

I hear ya. I know how those can be.

I phoned work last night before passing out and told them I was on "Do not call" for the morning.
Good move on my part, because they would have called... and I probably would've gone in.

So, onto the more "fun" stuff!

Yay!

Let's start off with everyone's favorite bear:

Named after my hometown. Good start.

Who doesn't love a bathroom?!

I have a love/hate relationship.
Hate when you really, really, really need to go... and someone's using it.

Easy?? Let's hear specifics...

Specifics?

Wild Waterfalls Wending Wantonly through the Wilderness.

This is the tricky one for you lexiphiles!!! Guesses??

I can't answer this. I'm over-wrought (iron).

How did you get that? Waited until everyone left then used flash?

"A drink a day makes a fantastic Disney Stay."- Liesa Buren

So that's who said that! Must be a very wise woman.

I know! W is for the White piece of paper in the guy's hand (seated to the left).

I will be able to switch from giving you a blow by blow report on the Study/Exam Cycle to a Here's Some Actual Trip News Report.

Is this possible???

Exam #4 is in the morning and I've had a bit less time to study than I would have liked. I'll let y'all know how it went tomorrow evening as I have lecture right after the exam AND a mandatory Field Trip to Portland in the afternoon

Good luck on the exam! I know you've got this!

 

[DonnaBeeGood]

.

 

[franandaj]

Yes, the offending Washer and Dryer on my last TR! I was actually combing through old photos to find ones that you wouldn't have seen on the current TR and came across the Washer and Dryer from my last stay at the Wilderness Lodge, but this was a much better picture of a Washer and Dryer so I used this one instead!

 

[Flossbolna]

Good luck Liesa! And that exhibition sounds interesting!

 

[cinderkelly]

I'm still here I promise!! Hope the wrist is feeling better!

I actually have a W pic!


Waterfall from Radiator Springs Racers at DL. Probably my fav. Ride of both parks!


Good luck on your exam and Happy Wednesday!!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Good luck on the exam! Reading through your notes, it seems to me that the best way to remember is...zzzzzzzzzzzz....

I know! W is for the White piece of paper in the guy's hand (seated to the left).

Exactly!

 

[Steppesister]

Still passed with an 84%. The material is exponentially harder so I'm happy with that. Thanks for all your prayers. Tomorrow is a a day off- so hopefully a nice little update.


ETA:Got a question back, so I'm at a 86%. Again. That puts me at a solid 87% overall. Woot!!!

 

[pkondz]

Still passed with an 84%.

ETA:Got a question back, so I'm at a 86%. Again. That puts me at a solid 87% overall. Woot!!!

All right! <virtual high five... c'mon girl, don't leave me hanging!>

 

[DISNEYMOON10121991]

ETA:Got a question back, so I'm at a 86%. Again. That puts me at a solid 87% overall. Woot!!!

Way to go!
I'm always missing the post when you tell us an exam is coming up, so you're done before I wish you good luck!
I guess it doesn't matter because you seem to do fine anyways

 

[jedijill]

Great job!

Jill in CO

 

[Flossbolna]

For another exam done - and with a very good result! So, now it is down to one more and the final? You are really closing in on the final stretch of the program! And with that on the trip to WDW!

 

[afwdwfan]

Still passed with an 84%. The material is exponentially harder so I'm happy with that. Thanks for all your prayers. Tomorrow is a a day off- so hopefully a nice little update.


ETA:Got a question back, so I'm at a 86%. Again. That puts me at a solid 87% overall. Woot!!!

Congratulations!!! Keep it up!!!!

 

[Steppesister]

X is for eXtra Little Vacation
​

And here we are. The tail end of a Disney vacation. But WAIT! There's more....


We left off with the final day of Disney. Sad, yes. But to ease the pain of closing the resort door one last time, of rolling the bags along the paths of shame, and piling into the UnMagical Depress to head our separate ways, Prince Charming and I will say good-bye to the "kiddos" and board our own flying carpet for destinations south.

Most of you already know where we'll be headed, but for those of you who may be just joining in, or for those of you who may have forgotten, The Keys are waiting for us- most likely Islamorada to be exact. Ask me how long it's been since we've had a "just us" vacation to anywhere further than 100 miles from home. Go ahead, ask.

You, you there in front.
20 years?
Yes! You are right; very good guess!

We either couldn't afford it, didn't have childcare, lived out of the country and were NO way leaving the kids where there was no medical care, couldn't afford it, didn't have time off, or couldn't afford it.
Now it seems my schooling and hard work have already paid off. I have a skill in something I truly love doing, AND I get paid for it.

Here's the deets.





























Exciting, huh? Here's the story behind the story:

I made the fatal planning mistake of delegating said planning to Mister Bister, and that's what we've got so far. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Zero solid plans, reservations, or destination. Non-planners drive a Planner/Type A freaking CRAZY! I'm ok with no restaurant ressies even until after we get there, but no hotel reservation is just not OK. We've sat down a few times and looked at some places, but just can't agree on somewhere. I want a nice pool with padded lounge chairs, a room with a view to see the sunset/sunrise, somewhere close to a Tiki Bar. I want frou-frous on a white sandy beach under an umbrella with palm trees gently swaying behind me; book in hand, and a delicious fish dinner waiting for me near-ish by. He wants cheap.

His dream vacation in the Keys involves SCUBA facilities with boats, tanks, and no reservations or deadlines for anything.

You may be asking yourself: "Wherein lies any kind of compromise?"

We've looked at this one:

http://www.holidayisle.com/?utm_source=fla-keys.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=Hotels, Motels and Resorts&utm_campaign=FKDC

And this one:

http://www.chesapeake-resort.com/?utm_source=fla-keys.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=Hotels, Motels and Resorts&utm_campaign=FKDC


And I would really love to hang out here:



http://loreleicabanabar.com/

While he dives, I'll snorkel or lounge on the boat. Or just get eaten by a shark. Or stung by jellies. The compromise was my spending a crap-ton of time and money on a Disney vacation, and he gets to non-plan this part. I will just relax and know we'll have a great time wherever we end up, and resolve to never say, "I told you so." when we drive dejectedly from full restaurant to full restaurant hungry, looking for good food.

Other than that we haven't done a ton of research or gotten any recommendations other than from our neighbors who say Snappers on Largo is to die for. Sidenote: that's an extremely odd idiom; who would seriously die for meal? Although I'm pretty sure I've almost died waiting for a lunch break on many of my Clinical shifts.

So here's my plea:

Who's been there? Where did you stay? What are some must-see things to do? Hemmingway's home worth a trip to West? Are there any hiking trails you've done? Give me what you got!! **LURKERS: THIS MEANS YOU TOO!** We only have about 3 full days there before we head back to Miami, turn in the rental, and head back to the Left Coast. What are the highlights we shouldn't miss?

I now must sign off for a time to make the first truly home-cooked meal I've made in about 3 weeks. Fish and red chard on a bed of couscous. Topped off with pistachio pudding. Which does come from a box, but is oh, so delish.

Until a bit later....

Steppe

 

[Flossbolna]

This where we stayed in 2004: http://www.seafarerkeylargo.com

We drove down to the Bahia Honda State Park one day to hang out at the beach there. This was beautiful. I also went swimming with dolphins one day.

Asto Key West, we skipped this in 2004 as it seemed too far a drive from Key Largo. I visited on the Panama Canal cruise and you can read about it in my trip report. Starts here: If You See It: Eat It! Via Panama to Disneyland - Completed and Link to New Trip Report 2/24

 

[franandaj]

Who's been there? Where did you stay? What are some must-see things to do? Hemmingway's home worth a trip to West? Are there any hiking trails you've done? Give me what you got!! **LURKERS: THIS MEANS YOU TOO!**

OK. I have no recommendations but I can send you to a TR where a pair of folks do sone great travels in Key West. I'm on my phone and can't actually post a link, but if you go over to the cruise line TRs and look for the TR "Get off the ship we are running out of towel animals" TR you will find some great Key west ideas. She has chapters so you don't have to read the whole thing though it is worth it!