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

[jenseib]

Finally joinining in and just happened to see this.

Is this what is being looked for?

I thought I was having a dream again.

 

[Steppesister]

I am finally all caught up!

I absolutely love the wedding pictures. They are just stunning. The colors for the wedding are wonderful. What a lovely day.

I enjoyed meeting all your family. I really didn't realize your youngest was born while you were still overseas.

Congrats on buying your first two park tickets. That is awesome.

Also - congrats on scoring so high on your entrance exam for nursing school. You totally have this!!!!! When do you go back to school?

Every detail of the wedding was very intentional in its meaning. Yellow is Bek's favorite color and purple is my son-in-law's.

Yep, born in Thailand, in the Year of the Horse, 2614 according the Thai Buddhist calendar.

I go back Monday. Just printed all my schtuffs for the first test. It's a LOT!

 

[Steppesister]

Don't mean to be a thread hog, just catching up I LOVE Belknap! I was there for a retreat a few years ago with some ladies - we rented a vacation house nearby. The hike at the river is amazing and you meet the most interesting people in the hot springs (well, pretty much anywhere in Oregon, but I won't go there! ) Have a great time!!! See you after school and play well with others!

LOL! No worries, I like when my friends come say hi.

We also rented the vacation homes at Camp Yelm, and it was perfect for us! Big enough to spread out and have space. These are not "those kind" of hot springs. Although if we did go to "those kind" I'd probably have the whole thing to myself. We did the hike to the Secret Garden last August, and also the Larch? Trail. So much to do in the area.

Yeup, The Term starts on Monday, so I'll sadly be here less for a while.

 

[Steppesister]

Finally joinining in and just happened to see this.



I thought I was having a dream again.

Nope, just the usually when this crowd gets together...

 

[Steppesister]

You're not a step-sister now, but have you ever played one at DL? (That should get some rumors going....)

I haven't; but I"m not sure what you're referring to either. Is this a street entertainer thing???

 

[KatMark]

I'm sorry I missed your last update (I have an excuse...it was on my birthday and we had things going on; and then I took all my Christmas stuff down and we had to work today ).

I hope you had/are having a good getaway before you start up school again.

 

[Steppesister]

E is for Every New Year Should Start Like This​

Each winter our family heads to someplace away from home to have a change of pace and relax a bit between Christmas and New Years. For several years we've gone to the Oregon Coast and stayed in a beach house some friends owned, but this year, they sold it. I wanted something different anyways, so we decided to go back to a place the Hubs and I went for our 25th Anniversary- Belknap Hot Springs Resort between Eugene and Sisters in the Cascade Range. While some services are lacking (like a decent restaurant), it does make up for itself with unlimited soaking time in one of the 2 pools filled with luscious, naturally mineralized, 104 degree spring water. It does a body good.

This year there were 9 of us going, our 5 plus 2 significant others, which makes for a pretty big crowd, so we opted for a 2-bedroom vacation home with a full kitchen. That gave us plenty of room to spread out when a certain few of us got on each others' nerves. Ahem...

I have a few pictures from our trip last summer which I'll share since I didn't take the camera over the pool/Lodge area except once. So the next 2 are in summer, and the 3rd is from this trip in Winter for comparison.







I had a great big, hairy plan to cook the 2 dinners ahead of time, but that didn't happen. So, we carted 2 entire carloads of crap up the mountain. Everything but the kitchen sink... and the lasagna noodles I needed for the 2nd night's dinner. And my toothbrush.

Is it just me, or does the following sort of crazy bull poopy happen to everyone??



I guess the good news is that the tree didn't come down ON my car in our coming or going. It wasn't there when we drove TO the pool, but was an hour later on our way back. Always a plus. (I'm sure it was a close call since that's the more dramatic version of my story.) There was no driving around the thing, as I'd have had to drive over both a few boulders AND the resort's lawn to get around it. So, I dropped the kids off (3 of them) and they walked up to the house while I turned around to get help. After telling the grouchy pool Nazi at the desk about the tree that woudn't let me get home, I went back to an area where the Boise/ASU game was playing and struck up a conversation with some of the ladies in the crowd. I explained that I was being held hostage by a tree and they said the best remedy was a big Solo cup of cheap wine. Naturally, I totally agreed. Next time you come to Oregon, I can try to arrange a tree to narrowly miss your car and a hostage situation for you. It might score a big glass of wine for you too- you never know.

The kids had already helped themselves to the Coconut rum and Coke (my son's GF drinks it neat), and they'd just started Unstoppable. A pretty good movie, if I do say so myself! We gorged on this while we watched, which was equally as thrilling as the movie.



The next morning was absolutely GORGEOUS! The sun was shining brightly and the air was mountain crisp. Rebekah and I took a long walk looking for icy and frosty pictures to take. It was so nice to just spend some good time with her, as we really haven't done much of ANY one-on-one since her wedding.

Here is just a sampling of what we found: (for those of you don't know, I also dabble in photography for fun.)
















After dinner, we all made the trip back to the pools for a late night soak. When I booked the house, I didn't know that a HUGE New Year's Blowout with food, dessert, Martinelli's and raffles was being offered... as part of the booking. Who knew?! Maybe someone wouldn't have had to sit with a lasagna pan on their lap if they'd just happened to mention this when I made the reservation. Thanks grouchy, Nazi Pool Lady. No, I didn't win any of the raffles. I never do. But I did soak them for all the Martinelli's I could handle before I peed in their pool. So how smug I look?



The crowd, by this time, was turning into an anarchist drunken brewhaha, so we decided that we'd go make our own brewhaha back with the teenagers/young adults... you know a rousing game of Quirkle, some more baklava, and a snoring party by 11:00. Yes, we are that pathetic. I mean who trades a pillow for fireworks?!


The next day was rather uneventful. I studied some, the kids played on their electronics, we played a boardgame or two, and we hit up the hot pools a couple times. Then I discovered the lasagna noodle brain fart. Mike and I drove ½ and hour to find a store idiotic enough (thank Goodness for idiots) to be open on New Year's Day that had a pretty large selection of groceries. We banked that info away for future trips to the area.

While dinner cooked, we enjoyed a few of these:



In case you are wondering, I do make the most nomilicious margs in the State. This time, we happened to have brought some Ginger Syrup with us for pancakes, so we had ginger-lime margs which really hit the spot. And put us all in just silly enough of a mood to watch Megamind. Which always cracks me up. Even without a good margarita.

Check out always comes way to early. Especially when you want to sleep in, have a crapload of stuff to pack and load AND bacon to fry and eat. 11:00 was just cruel and unusual punishment for a vacationing Clan. But we did it. We dragged ourselves out of bed, did the coffee and bacon thang, loaded our junk, and checked out by 10:55. While checking out, my son-in-law stopped by to see if anyone had turned in his wedding ring which had disappeared the night before; sadly no one had. I'm really praying that it turns up. Aside from the obvious, it has some very significant meaning to it.

The drive home was lovely, as it always is. The view of my computer screen while listening to a lecture on peripheral vascular disease was particularly charming as was the covered bridge we stopped at to see. This one is the 2nd longest in Oregon, and all the trusses are made of huge timbers.









We made it home safely, but my little fishy didn't fare so well while we were gone. When we came home, he was mostly dead because I was a moron and forgot to put him in the upstairs room that we left a heater on for the rat. We slowly added a little warm water to the bowl, and he kinda revived. It's a good thing he was only mostly dead. The Hubs had the brilliant idea of blowing air into his bowl with a straw in case a low O2 level was the issue. Sure enough, my little McSquirtyPants is a happy BetaBoy once again. He still hasn't eaten, and yet may not make it, but I have a little more hope now than I did about 2 hours ago.

And now, to make this Pre-Trip Report worthy/relevant, I present to you the BEST kind of surprise to come home to:

 

[Steppesister]

I'm sorry I missed your last update (I have an excuse...it was on my birthday and we had things going on; and then I took all my Christmas stuff down and we had to work today ).

I hope you had/are having a good getaway before you start up school again.

Why yes you did, Birthday Girl! And I heard you had a nice little surprise too! WOOT!

I doubt mine will get down anytime soon with school starting up on Monday. Hopefully I can make some progress this weekend!

Just did a nice update on the trip... the usual shenanigans.

 

[MKBekka]

No, I didn't win any of the raffles. I never do.

Can I comment on your lottery tickets?

It was a gorgeous walk. It was seriously nice to see ice more than a tiny bit of frost of my car that has no purpose aside from making life miserable.

 

[Steppesister]

Can I comment on your lottery tickets?

It was a gorgeous walk. It was seriously nice to see ice more than a tiny bit of frost of my car that has no purpose aside from making life miserable.

No. But you can talk to Kathy (KatMark) who wins pretty regularly. $500 isn't exactly a kick in the pants.

Did hubby find his ring???

 

[ursalita]

Wow, Oregon sure is pretty! That baklava looks delish. I hope your SIL finds his ring. I lost my wedding ring once and found it 11 months later when it fell out of my dryer while my husband was cleaning it. Also I found a little 1/3 carat diamond (my grandmother's) that had fallen out of its setting months before when cleaning my son's room. Just sharing because sometimes good things happen.

 

[ursalita]

Wow, Oregon sure is pretty! That baklava looks delish. I hope your SIL finds his ring. I lost my wedding ring once and found it 11 months later when it fell out of my dryer while my husband was cleaning it. Also I found a little 1/3 carat diamond (my grandmother's) that had fallen out of its setting months before when cleaning my son's room. Just sharing because sometimes these things have a way of making their way back to you.

 

[MKBekka]

No. But you can talk to Kathy (KatMark) who wins pretty regularly. $500 isn't exactly a kick in the pants.

Did hubby find his ring???

Well carp. I had so many wise cracks in mind. Some folls just have all the luck...

No. I'm afraid some selfish bum didn't turn it in. Bit we did leave contact info for the Nasty Pool Nazi Lady.

 

[Steppesister]

Wow, Oregon sure is pretty! That baklava looks delish. I hope your SIL finds his ring. I lost my wedding ring once and found it 11 months later when it fell out of my dryer while my husband was cleaning it. Also I found a little 1/3 carat diamond (my grandmother's) that had fallen out of its setting months before when cleaning my son's room. Just sharing because sometimes good things happen.

It is very beautiful; the downside is that it's gray and rainy most of the. Except for the 2 month break in the summer.

I have found my own multiple times as well. Tucked in a pocket, in the dryer or on a shelf that'd I'd forgotten I'd placed it. So yes, there is still hope!

Well carp. I had so many wise cracks in mind. Some folls just have all the luck...

No. I'm afraid some selfish bum didn't turn it in. Bit we did leave contact info for the Nasty Pool Nazi Lady.

LOL! Sorry to burst your wise-crack bubble. I should have Kathy buy me a few and send them here.

Hopefully, if it's found as housekeeping cleans and it's there, it'll turn up and you'll get a call...

 

[MAGICFOR2]

I haven't; but I"m not sure what you're referring to either. Is this a street entertainer thing???

I guess you could call it that. I don't think they have a hug presence anywhere, but I have seen them tagging along with the Cindy's stepmother and causing a little ruckus while doing a meet n greet.

 

[Flossbolna]

It sounds like a wonderful break over New Years Eve. I am all for soaking in warm water!

I also think you did a strategically wise thing to buy Disney tickets now! They are only going to become more expensive between now and October 2016 (I would say at least two price increases until then are to be expected). So, if you had the funds, well done!!

Just as a tip: I am not sure what length of ticket you bought and what your plans are. I see that you bought from the undercover tourist people (or whatever they are called) There is a strategy to buy the ticket they currently have with the deepest discount and then add days just as you need. Disney will "bridge" the price between their undiscounted ticket and the discounted ticket price. This used to work wonderful in the past. But now with the whole FP+ and My Disney Experience stuff, if you want to book FP+ in advance you need to have a ticket for every day you want to book FP+ for. So, if you buy a 4-day ticket with the intent to upgrade to a 7-day ticket once you are at WDW in order to maximize your savings, you will only be able to book 4 days of FP+. This should not be a huge problem in October though. I just wanted to alert you to this newly added problem that you might not be aware of yet as you might not have in depth knowledge of all the wonderfulness (not really, some aspects are neat, but I had a lot of , and moments) of FP+...

 

[Steppesister]

I guess you could call it that. I don't think they have a hug presence anywhere, but I have seen them tagging along with the Cindy's stepmother and causing a little ruckus while doing a meet n greet.

I actually have seen them! They were hanging out by the castle (to the right if you're facing Main Street) and they were hilarious! I only watched for a bit, since characters aren't my big thing. If there is no line, or a very minimal one, I'll stop, but I won't wait and waste ride time.

But yes, that trio is absolutely a riot!!!

 

[Steppesister]

It sounds like a wonderful break over New Years Eve. I am all for soaking in warm water!

They are so relaxing- as long as a bunch of splashy kids don't get in and turn it into a water aerobics pool. There wasn't much of that except the second night. I just moved over and it was better.

I also think you did a strategically wise thing to buy Disney tickets now! They are only going to become more expensive between now and October 2016 (I would say at least two price increases until then are to be expected). So, if you had the funds, well done!!

I had figured that. At least 2. I estimated I'd probably saved at least $20 a ticket, maybe more. 20 months is a LONG time to save, so I'm doing my best to take it slow and easy. Actually, Mike was pretty hacked off at me, and I can see his point to some degree. I do need to pay for school (about $6,000 more, if I make it through all the terms) and that does need to come first. I may work this summer as an LPN to save a bit. We'll see. I definitely think we can swing this, though. Especially if it's only the 4 of us going. I still hope at least BEk and Mikki will tag along for some or all of it.

Just as a tip: I am not sure what length of ticket you bought and what your plans are. I see that you bought from the undercover tourist people (or whatever they are called) There is a strategy to buy the ticket they currently have with the deepest discount and then add days just as you need. Disney will "bridge" the price between their undiscounted ticket and the discounted ticket price. This used to work wonderful in the past. But now with the whole FP+ and My Disney Experience stuff, if you want to book FP+ in advance you need to have a ticket for every day you want to book FP+ for. So, if you buy a 4-day ticket with the intent to upgrade to a 7-day ticket once you are at WDW in order to maximize your savings, you will only be able to book 4 days of FP+. This should not be a huge problem in October though. I just wanted to alert you to this newly added problem that you might not be aware of yet as you might not have in depth knowledge of all the wonderfulness (not really, some aspects are neat, but I had a lot of , and moments) of FP+...

I bought 8 day PH's. I may have to turn at least 1 or 2 days into non-expiring after we start, but that remains to be seen. That plan it to be at WDW 9 days with a non-park day in the middle. That may be asking too much....

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Sounds like you had a great NY weekend! Your Ginger-lime marg sounds yummy. I'm glad the sun came out for you - we didn't have as much gray in the City of Sunshine

Too bad about the ring, I hope he finds it, or someone honest does. It is obviously very personal, so there's hope.

Yay for the tickets!!! 9 days is a lot of Disney days! We are just doing military 4-day plus WP with a resort day. No wonder it is going to take awhile to gear up for, and save for. Looking at your dates, we may get a chance to say hi! We are planning a 2016 cruise and were thinking a 4 day on the Dream with a couple of Epcot F&W days would be nice. That plan remains to be seen.

 

[Flossbolna]

They are so relaxing- as long as a bunch of splashy kids don't get in and turn it into a water aerobics pool. There wasn't much of that except the second night. I just moved over and it was better.

It seems like the pools are fairly big - so easy to avoid the splashy people!

I had figured that. At least 2. I estimated I'd probably saved at least $20 a ticket, maybe more. 20 months is a LONG time to save, so I'm doing my best to take it slow and easy. Actually, Mike was pretty hacked off at me, and I can see his point to some degree. I do need to pay for school (about $6,000 more, if I make it through all the terms) and that does need to come first. I may work this summer as an LPN to save a bit. We'll see. I definitely think we can swing this, though. Especially if it's only the 4 of us going. I still hope at least BEk and Mikki will tag along for some or all of it.

Actually, as sad as it is, but for someone planning to visit WDW in the future, investing in park tickets seems to be a smart move. It gives you a pretty good return on your money.

I bought 8 day PH's. I may have to turn at least 1 or 2 days into non-expiring after we start, but that remains to be seen. That plan it to be at WDW 9 days with a non-park day in the middle. That may be asking too much....

Sounds like a great plan! And one can always dream big!

WDW is far more fun if one takes some time off from the parks and with 9 days including a break day, touring should be fairly relaxed!