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

[afwdwfan]

We ate a lot of other stuff that I'll probably regret for days to come.

Uh... I feel ya. I'm wearing my belt 2 holes looser than it was last week.

ANOTHER ENGAGEMENT!!!

My son, Andrew's fiance texted a picture her new ring:

Congratulations!

Most likely that'll be diving somewhere, or sitting by the pool, or anything but being in the parks. And that's ok.

Hmmm... ever thought about sending him on some of the tours? Or maybe even that behind the scenes diving tour in the Seas that @pkondz did?

At least most of the time. He'll spend his 4 park days with us at the tailend of the Disney portion after we've done most of what the kids and I have wanted to.

Makes sense. Everybody gets what they want.

Which brings me to the point in this long-winded tale of explaining why only part of our air tickets were purchased. We have NO idea whether we'll be flying down to Miami and renting a car from there, renting a car in Orlando and driving from there, or if we'll be flying back to Seattle (We saved over $500 by flying out of Seattle rather than Portland, and saved 12 hours in travel time by taking the red eye.) from Miami or Orlando. That is all as-of-yet planned... And that's ok, cuz I need some more reasons to string this PTR out another 9 months.

Definitely a lot to think about and plan about. You should be very happy.

And now, in the Spirit of Celebrating, from my family to yours: A Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! May your eggnog be thick, your fires burn bright; the family be healthy and your jeans not too tight.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you as well!

 

[cinderkelly]

ANOTHER ENGAGEMENT!!!

My son, Andrew's fiance texted a picture her new ring:

How awesome! Congratulations on the upcoming daughter-in-law to be! Pretty ring!

planning self opening up a fresh tab on your favorite browser with full permission and blessing to purchase the plane tickets.

Wow you're one point ahead of the game on me. I keep looking at flights for my June trip and ticket prices are still $ 100 more each than I budgeted for so I shall play the waiting game and hope they go down..

just the 2 of us will be headed down to the Keys for a few more days of our

I've always wanted to go to the Keys, how fun!!

And now, in the Spirit of Celebrating, from my family to yours: A Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! May your eggnog be thick, your fires burn bright; the family be healthy and your jeans not too tight.

Hope you all had a lovely Christmas! My yoga pants right now are my best friend

And if your jeans ARE too tight... Sweatpants. Or pajama pants. Or my preferred choice... NO pants!

 

[irene_dsc]

Congrats on the engagement! Definitely puts a monkey wrench in all your planning, however!

 

[Steppesister]

My Lovelies,

Was hoping I'd have the energy to get on here longer than what it's taking me to type this short paragraph out, but it was a long 10 hour day, I was up at 4:00 to do it, and my eyes are heavy. Very, very heavy.

Trying to get in some study time tomorrow, and board another kind of UnMagical Depress bound for Term 2 of the year. The ONLY reason I'm excited to start is that it's closer to being done with this crap called Nursing School.

I will get to replies after a day of learning about Cardiac Function, K?

Hope you all have a wonderful day doing whatever it is you do!!

 

[pkondz]

and my eyes are heavy. Very, very heavy.

Watch out! You're being hypnotized!

Trying to get in some study time tomorrow, and board another kind of UnMagical Depress bound for Term 2 of the year. The ONLY reason I'm excited to start is that it's closer to being done with this crap called Nursing School.

I think you answered yourself there.
Just keep swimming!

I will get to replies after a day of learning about Cardiac Function, K?

ok

Hope you all have a wonderful day doing whatever it is you do!!

If Kay and sleepover guest actually wake up, I'm taking them for Dim Sum.
After though, gotta go to work.

 

[Steppesister]

Sounds like so much fun.
Our family (much to my chagrin) doesn't.
We used to play cards, at least. But even that has gone by the wayside.
Doesn't help that DW isn't into it at all.

We LOVE strategy board games. Keeps me sharp witted (and sharp-tongued!).

My DH isn't game-y at all, so I have to play with my kids who are always up for it.

Saw that on the Book of Faces.
Congratulations again!

THANKS!

Sounds like my DW. Well, not the diving part, but the sitting by the pool and not park touring.

Party poopers, All. But hey, it's more touring for the ones who DO wanna get stuff done.

Hmmm.... it's very subtle.

Subtle is my middle name!

Ooohhh... I was nodding my head in agreement to everything, when...

Totally failed on that last one.

Let's not have ANY more failing!! NONE!

Uh... I feel ya. I'm wearing my belt 2 holes looser than it was last week.

The damage is real this year.

Hmmm... ever thought about sending him on some of the tours? Or maybe even that behind the scenes diving tour in the Seas that @pkondz did?

I don't think he wants a "fake experience" as calls them. He wants the real deal. If that's what makes him happy, then ok. I guess I wouldn't wanna go to the local kiddie park and think it's Disney... if that makes sense.

Makes sense. Everybody gets what they want.

Too true!

Definitely a lot to think about and plan about. You should be very happy.

For reals! Although, the latest news, which I'll share in a little bit, puts a HUGE crimp in EVERYONE'S plans- especially theirs.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you as well!

To you as well! I'm workin NYE until about 10:30. Should make it home just in time to do my usual... get in bed and be asleep well before midnight.

How awesome! Congratulations on the upcoming daughter-in-law to be! Pretty ring!

THanks! She likes and eclectic style, so it suits her pretty well.

Wow you're one point ahead of the game on me. I keep looking at flights for my June trip and ticket prices are still $ 100 more each than I budgeted for so I shall play the waiting game and hope they go down..

BOO! I hope you find JUST the right airfare super soon! I paid a bit more, and had to do red-eye, but hey, it gives us a whole day I thought we wouldn't have to swim and nap and relax

I've always wanted to go to the Keys, how fun!!

It'll be fun to both laze and explore! I hope there are some excellent beaches along with some fun museums and stuff.

Hope you all had a lovely Christmas! My yoga pants right now are my best friend

I need a mu-mu.

Congrats on the engagement! Definitely puts a monkey wrench in all your planning, however!

Yeah, it really does. And that not even the beginning. We got more news a couple of days ago, and there's more drama. Trust me.

Watch out! You're being hypnotized!

Great! I can take a nap.

I think you answered yourself there.
Just keep swimming!

The reward(s) will be worth it! I get a trip to my Happy Place and many more after that!

If Kay and sleepover guest actually wake up, I'm taking them for Dim Sum.
After though, gotta go to work.

I've never done a Dim Sum. I need to change that. I work tomorrow Eve. And again (for the last time for a LONG time) on Sunday. Made enough to almost pay for the food now. Just a few more shifts and the WHOLE trip will be PIF! After that... whatever I make beyond that will be for the Keys portion (the rest will have to go on credit).

 

[pkondz]

My DH isn't game-y at all, so I have to play with my kids who are always up for it.

DDs are usually busy with other stuff.
I might get one to play, but tough to get both.
And lots of games are just better with more than two.

Subtle is my middle name!

It is? Huh. Never noticed... Oh! There it is.
It just sort of blends in.

Let's not have ANY more failing!! NONE!

Whoops! Forget I said that.

I've never done a Dim Sum. I need to change that.

Well......
Kay's friend woke up not feeling so great so we took her home. That just left Kay and I for Dim Sum.
The first things we got were good. Chicken wings (too spicy for Kay, I liked 'em) and honey garlic chicken skewers.
But.
A cart came by and I thought I spied some dumplings. Kay loves dumplings. I pointed and asked what it was.
The woman replied something I didn't understand. She then pointed at a different dish and said something like
"Same but better! Is good!" Um. Okay. We'll take that. What is it again? "Is mumble mumble."
And as it hits the table and she marks it as bought, we realize that it's not dumplings.
"Uh, what is this?"
"Is mumble mumble."
"And what is that?"
"Cow stomach."

Well, okay. We figured we'd try it.

No. Just. No.
Not good.
Like eating rubber. But worse.

We shoved it aside but the damage was done.
We both kind of lost our appetites a bit.
We did have a bit more of other things, but not a lot.
Kay loved the shrimp and spinach dumplings.
I really liked the sticky rice.

I did have fun watching her reaction when I told her she had a stomach in her stomach.
But only because I'm a bad person.

I work tomorrow Eve. And again (for the last time for a LONG time) on Sunday. Made enough to almost pay for the food now. Just a few more shifts and the WHOLE trip will be PIF! After that... whatever I make beyond that will be for the Keys portion (the rest will have to go on credit).

Hey! PIF is awesome!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Hey Ponz! Dim sum sounds pretty adventurous. I got some sashimi that mumble mumble way in Okinawa once, but it turned out to be good. I guess I have never done the Dim Sum either. Must put it on the list.

Liesa, I am surprised you had school again this week. Hope it is going well.

 

[pkondz]

Hey Ponz! Dim sum sounds pretty adventurous. I got some sashimi that mumble mumble way in Okinawa once, but it turned out to be good. I guess I have never done the Dim Sum either. Must put it on the list.

I had never done it either until a couple of months ago.
It's a fun way to dine.

 

[franandaj]

Kay's friend woke up not feeling so great so we took her home. That just left Kay and I for Dim Sum.

I have wanted to do Dim Sum forever! We are really close enough to SF that we could have done some of the best, but even LA has got to have spent great ones , but we have still never been!

 

[Steppesister]

Dim sum sounds more amazing than the salad bar I had tonight. I was worried I'd be hungry before bed. My psychic powers are astute.

 

[Steppesister]

Is there Dim Sum in the World.....? Ideas are hatching.....

 

[Flossbolna]

Is there Dim Sum in the World.....? Ideas are hatching.....

Not really. But Hong Kong Disneyland has a Dim Sum restaurant that is supposed to be amazing. Better plan your next trip! ;-)

Sorry for being so absent. Michael being here kind of infringes on my DIS time... But I am being very selfish and think that that is just fine. ;-)

Congratulations to your son on his engagement! And I think it is fabulous news that your DH decided to come along for the whole trip! If you need any outside of WDW travel advice for him, I will be happy to help. Michael knows the area in general quite well. I am afraid that diving is something however, that neither he nor I know anything about!

 

[afwdwfan]

For reals! Although, the latest news, which I'll share in a little bit, puts a HUGE crimp in EVERYONE'S plans- especially theirs.

So... the news you'll share in a bit? What does Dim Sum and being hungry after just eating salad have to do with this???

 

[Steppesister]

DDs are usually busy with other stuff.
I might get one to play, but tough to get both.
And lots of games are just better with more than two.

Yes, most games are much better with a little more competition. More fun with 2 more people weeping in self pity.

It is? Huh. Never noticed... Oh! There it is.
It just sort of blends in.

Classily understated. Best practice.

Whoops! Forget I said that.

Said what?

Well......
Kay's friend woke up not feeling so great so we took her home. That just left Kay and I for Dim Sum.
The first things we got were good. Chicken wings (too spicy for Kay, I liked 'em) and honey garlic chicken skewers.
But.
A cart came by and I thought I spied some dumplings. Kay loves dumplings. I pointed and asked what it was.
The woman replied something I didn't understand. She then pointed at a different dish and said something like
"Same but better! Is good!" Um. Okay. We'll take that. What is it again? "Is mumble mumble."
And as it hits the table and she marks it as bought, we realize that it's not dumplings.
"Uh, what is this?"
"Is mumble mumble."
"And what is that?"
"Cow stomach."

Well, okay. We figured we'd try it.

No. Just. No.
Not good.
Like eating rubber. But worse.

We shoved it aside but the damage was done.
We both kind of lost our appetites a bit.
We did have a bit more of other things, but not a lot.
Kay loved the shrimp and spinach dumplings.
I really liked the sticky rice.

I did have fun watching her reaction when I told her she had a stomach in her stomach.
But only because I'm a bad person.

Calamari is mostly the same. We enjoyed tripe many times in Crapistan, neatly tucked in dumplings as well. Smothered in a vegetable ragu and fresh sour cream. My kids liked it much better than the eyeballs- so it's all relative.

Hey! PIF is awesome!

Got paid today and twice as much as I'd thought! So I have surpassed "enough" and have entered the surplus-to-be-used-for-Keys/Wedding costs.

Hey Ponz! Dim sum sounds pretty adventurous. I got some sashimi that mumble mumble way in Okinawa once, but it turned out to be good. I guess I have never done the Dim Sum either. Must put it on the list.

Liesa, I am surprised you had school again this week. Hope it is going well.

No, not until Monday. But we've had our syllabus since the last day of class last term, and my study group is getting a head start on this next term. The content is heavy and there's a lot of review of the circulatory system to be done before we'll be able to grasp reading EKGs and calculating ejection fractions.

 

[Flossbolna]

Got paid today and twice as much as I'd thought! So I have surpassed "enough" and have entered the surplus-to-be-used-for-Keys/Wedding costs.

That's great news!!!

 

[Steppesister]

I have wanted to do Dim Sum forever! We are really close enough to SF that we could have done some of the best, but even LA has got to have spent great ones , but we have still never been!

When I was growing up I'd spend my summers in Glendale with my grandparents and every Friday night we'd either go to Chinatown or Little Tokyo enjoying the amazing foods! I LOVED the tempura bars we'd go to and showing off to the waitstaff that I could use chopsticks at 7. But in all that, we'd never done Dim sum. Let's make a date, Alison!!! When I get down to your area, hopefully next year, let's find a good Dim sum place, k??

Not really. But Hong Kong Disneyland has a Dim Sum restaurant that is supposed to be amazing. Better plan your next trip! ;-)

Sorry for being so absent. Michael being here kind of infringes on my DIS time... But I am being very selfish and think that that is just fine. ;-)

Congratulations to your son on his engagement! And I think it is fabulous news that your DH decided to come along for the whole trip! If you need any outside of WDW travel advice for him, I will be happy to help. Michael knows the area in general quite well. I am afraid that diving is something however, that neither he nor I know anything about!

Funny, when I googled it, Morimoto came up so I toddled off to allears website and.... NOPE. No dim sum. Which is in some ways a little surprising. I think it'd be a hit for people looking for unique ways to dine.

I totally understand! I'm so glad you are getting some good time in together. Are you on vacation this week or even more than that?

Mike wants some time in nature and "less touristy" things to do. He likes water sports or places to go caving (not a tour per se).

So... the news you'll share in a bit? What does Dim Sum and being hungry after just eating salad have to do with this???

Ummmm.... nothing.

But I'll take a minute to bring you up to date on "stuff" now.

 

[Steppesister]

That's great news!!!

More of these never hurts!!!!!

 

[Steppesister]

Well, we've got a wedding date and it is tentatively set for Oct. 31st. Not, as I am told, because they want a Goth wedding or somethingh, but that is #1) Her birthday, and #2) The anniversary of their first date 3 years ago.

OK, then.

Now that I have return tickets booked (and paid for) for the kids back to Portland, I'm not sure what to do. They will already be missing almost 2 weeks of school (with the understanding that they'll be working ahead on homework), and to send then straight up to Kentucky from Orlando would add another week of school missed. NOT a good option. At all. But I equally don't like the option of sending them home on the 20th and then paying another set of R/T tickets a week later to Kentucky and back for the wedding. GAH!!!!! What should I do????????


Additionally, now Mike and I have to fly directly from Miami (probably) to Kentucky (via Nashville) so we can help the couple do whatever last minute prep they may need us to. I suppose it's our duty (that I'm over-the-moon excited about!) to host a rehearsal dinner, so there's that too. Sadly, her parents are absolutely NOT onboard. They are staunchly Catholic; we (and Andrew) are not. Although we have our concerns, as things may be harder for them, especially when kids come around, and have voiced those concerns, they simply won't support them in any way, shape, or form. It breaks my heart to see them alienating the 2 of them from themselves, and to see Andrew and Emily, putting distance there, which in the long-run they may regret.

Aaaaanyway..... all of this lead me to the last bit of news concerning the wedding, plans, etc...

Andrew, as you all know is active military getting his MOS training in Ft. Gordon, GA, and just got his "Projection" to be sent to Guam! (Ummmm, HECK YEAH, we're excited!- already planning a trip there!) The problem lies in that he'll have to be stationed/on base in April, long before the October wedding. Emily, being the VERY smart cookie she is, knows that they have to be "married" in order for the Army to move her over there in June when she's done with school. So the whole timing thing of when and HOW to be "married" is a little muddy. Courthouse/paper wedding before April? Church/Priest Blessing in October?? They are really in angst somewhat over the whole thing; frankly, I don't blame them. But, they will have to get used to it. That's the life of a Military Family.

 

[irene_dsc]

Wow. Halloween. I hope they aren't planning on inviting many families with kids, since that would really mess things up. I can't imagine telling my kids that they have to miss trick or treating for a wedding! They may also have a challenging time booking a venue, photographer, etc. It wouldn't surprise me if that date ends up changing. Especially with the Guam complications. ..