The ABC's of Trip Reporting- PLEASE JOIN US ON THE NEW THREAD!

[All7OfUs]

Well the stars and the miracles lined up right for you guys this time! I knew that you got the stamp since Mike made it back too, but I didn't thinkit was going to be that 'easy'.

Love how it cost you to get a stamp that should of already been on there anyways.

Note to self: travel with eggs... just in case.

Since you're "on" and I have about 5 minutes before I have to take Zach to school, I thought I'd repsond to you, and hit the others later in the PM.

Yes, of course we all got out, but the "mess" getting out was rather distressing! Yeah, it's all about money in that part of the world often times. Sad, but true.

And you never know when an egg might come in handy. Food, decorating, stamps....

 

[KatMark]

Hi, Liesa. Just wanted to pop in and say hi. I have a lot of catching up to do. We're now on Marco Island and I hope to spend part of my evenings catching up on your trip.

 

[that's nice]

Since you're "on" and I have about 5 minutes before I have to take Zach to school, I thought I'd repsond to you, and hit the others later in the PM.

I hopped on the DIS on my phone for a minute... checking the Dec canceled ADR thread like crazy still trying to get a CRT ADR for December.

Yes, of course we all got out, but the "mess" getting out was rather distressing! Yeah, it's all about money in that part of the world often times. Sad, but true.

I know that it must of been super stressful. Hope the payoff didn't cut into your Disney money!

And you never know when an egg might come in handy. Food, decorating, stamps....

... throwing at a government official...

 

[All7OfUs]

Wow, this was really an amazing event that you managed to get your stamps in the last second! How funny (but also a bit sad) that the government official was telling you all about the egg...

I guess this problem has come up before.... Or do they teach them common forms of counterfeiting to look out for??? See... it's also all about who you know, too. If we hadn't been on a handshaking term with this guy, he'd probably not have even told us there was a potential problem down the road.

I will be thinking of Andrew tomorrow when he will be going through the ceremony.

I will pass along your thoughts. This whole thing must be rather eye-opening for him.

No, not in that way, you only have to register at the town where your permanent residence is and once you move your permanent residence to another town you have to tell the previous town that you are leaving. So much less crazy!!

Sounds a bit less invasive and time-consuming. And I DO agree that it could really help in tracking criminal activity. Taken to an extreme though, makes me uneasy. Big Brother, and all that.

I KNOWWWW you're talking about Glenn and Rosie instead of me!!!

Actually, disco had come to mind.

Leisa,

I enjoyed the roller coaster ride and I'm so relieved everything worked out. I can only imagine the stress of time. I'm also glad I'm reading it after it was resolved and didn't have to live it. You're amazing.

We were definitely pretty darned relieved too!! I had to try really hard to NOT let my mind wander too far down the "what if" path. No good use in that.

Amazing story Liesa! Wow!

And that gate agent, telling you how you could copy an old stamp...unbelievable!

We thought it VERY odd that he was telling us this!! Like were we supposed to go home "take care of it" and schedule a later flight??

I don't know how you managed to keep any composure to you at all. I would have been a complete and absolute mess.

I'm pretty good at keeping a poker face. I've had kids in NICU, near death stuff in other places, and needed to be "strong" on the outside to keep the kids from freaking out. On the inside, though, is a totally different story.

That's some serious wahooty! And 5 miracles to boot.

Totally random...Jeff and I were talking about Fokkers last night so it was funny to see one in your TR. Not a plane we really see much.



You are supposed to do the same thing here....aka...forward your mail. Which accomplishes the same thing. Now if that would only notify the bazillion other places you have to change an address....

It does make one never want to move.

I thought, you might know that defunct Dutch company. I understand they DO still make parts to keep their planes in the air. Good to know! Do they make a sea plane?? Why did Fokker come up?

Yes. Like voter registration, property tax bills, and Safeway cards.

 

[GreatBiscuit]

Well praise the Lord for THAT one! Talk about a nail biter. I'd have been a ball of nerves by that point.


Hopefully this was the most stressful thing that happend on the way home.

 

[All7OfUs]

Awesome update, Liesa!

Funny that I had already heard the story and it was still so exciting to read!

Your writing style is amazing.

Thanks!! GREAT to talk to you last night- it'd been too long!

Liesa, your update sounds like a scene from a movie! I'm SO glad it all worked out even though it was down to the last second.

It really does sound like a movie, but every word was TRUE!! God's last little practical joke- always keeping us guessing- and trusting.

Thinking of you Tracy and praying for your family!! Hellooooo one and all!

WAHOOTY!!! A BRAND SPANKING NEW POSTER!! Not just to this thread, but to the DIS!!! A very special to you JJ!!

Only 3 posts! I am honored you have come in and made yourself comfy!!! Come around often, and I assure you, there WILL be Disney stuff coming up in a while.

 

[All7OfUs]

Well praise the Lord for THAT one! Talk about a nail biter. I'd have been a ball of nerves by that point.


Hopefully this was the most stressful thing that happend on the way home.

Ummmm.. actually no. It wasn't.

 

[GreatBiscuit]

Ummmm.. actually no. It wasn't.

Somehow, that doesn't surprise me.

 

[cantwaittoseemickey]

Oh Maroo Buster is such a cutie patootie!! Those pictures of him/her and Lauren together are adorable!

Leisa, I am so glad you were able to get the stamp in time. Pretty close though! I love the pictures that you are posting. They really help us get a sense of things and what they look like.

Tracy I am so sorry your family has been through so much. ((hugs)) I am praying for your step dad.

 

[All7OfUs]

Leisa, that was some update! Had me holding my breath to the very end (I read fast. )

The Source was definitely with you that day....ready for the next exciting installment.

Now that I am finally keeping up, wouldn't ya know my surgery is scheduled for Tuesday...don't want to even think about how far behind I'll get then!!

Must figure out a way to have the laptop on something besides a lap so I can spend all day time reading the rest of next week.

Sheesh, Christine!! Don't hold your breath too long!! I can't give you mouth to mouth from here!

The next installments won't be quite a tense, but rather a bit more light-hearted. So you have a week (a little under) before surgery. I'll try to get one more update done before then. We'll see.... it's day by day around here right now.

YES!! I vote for a laptop on something else!! Hmmm.... a breakfast in bed tray? With eggs benedict on it before you start??

I don't how you manage that stress, I would have been crying, yelling and pouting all at once.

I'm so glad that you got your egg shaped stamp though!

It would have been a good day for valium!

Liesa----Phew I am cracking up that he was telling you how to copy the stamp Thankfully he made it there when he did....of all times for a flight to be EARLY!!

Tracy

Hey Tracy! Yeah, imagine that! A gov't agent telling us how to go around the system. Kinda like an IRS agent telling how to "creatively" fill out the form.

I'm realizing it's just as bad to take off early, than it is to take off late.

I tell people at work all the time we are soooo spoiled with all of the freedoms that we take for granted and others have lost their lives for!
Leisa, I'm glad that you were able to make out of the country as a family. If the plane had to leave before you recieved the stamp what may have happened? Would you all have to stay or could it have been taken care of at your next stop?

Freedoms are definitely worth fighting for- it makes me sad when they are abused by not coupling them with responsibility, or like you say, taken for granted by not appreciating them.

Good question! We certainly asked ourselves that. Someone told us it likely would have meant a detainment at the Almaty airport as we tried to fly out the next night, while it was "straightened out", (likely with a LARGE fine) and we would have probably missed our flight. (good bye trip into Germany) I doubt we'd have been taken to jail, since it was their fault, but certainly not out of the realm of possibility.

I made a major goof up one time when my daughter was born in Thailand (didnt' get a visa when I should have ) and it cost me a TON of money to exit.

Hi, Liesa. Just wanted to pop in and say hi. I have a lot of catching up to do. We're now on Marco Island and I hope to spend part of my evenings catching up on your trip.

Super you made to the island! I hope you're having a fabulous time basking in the sunshine! Have a tropical, fruity something for me.

I hopped on the DIS on my phone for a minute... checking the Dec canceled ADR thread like crazy still trying to get a CRT ADR for December.


I know that it must of been super stressful. Hope the payoff didn't cut into your Disney money!


... throwing at a government official...

I assume you didn't get anything- or you would have told us. RIght?

Naw, that Disney $$ was in my Mickey book, stashed in my account, or already paid. I was in good shape!

Oooooh, good one!!!

Leisa, I am so glad you were able to get the stamp in time. Pretty close though! I love the pictures that you are posting. They really help us get a sense of things and what they look like.

WAY TOO close!! Honestly, even though I had this TR in mind as I went, I didn't get nearly enough photos- especially of this part of the journey. Too much other "stuff" going on. Where the pix are lacking, I'll try to make it up in words.

 

[All7OfUs]

Somehow, that doesn't surprise me.

Strangely, me neither. Finally got over to ZzubWorld. Thanks for the link.

 

[GreatBiscuit]

Strangely, me neither. Finally got over to ZzubWorld. Thanks for the link.

I'm so glad he decided to do another TR!

 

[Sleeping*Beauty]

OMG, that is the craziest airport story I have ever heard. Now what exactly would have happened if you didn't have the stamp; would you have gotten off of the plane?

 

[All7OfUs]

I'm so glad he decided to do another TR!

ME TOO!! Love his style!

OMG, that is the craziest airport story I have ever heard. Now what exactly would have happened if you didn't have the stamp; would you have gotten off of the plane?

No, we would have kept on with our journey and called someone the next day in the capitol city to find out what we could do from there. Basically, we had about 24 hours to figure it out. I suppose we could have just showed up at the airport the next evening in Almaty for our international flight and took our chances. The fact that we speak Kazakh went a LONG, LONG way in many a tight circumstance.

 

[GreatBiscuit]

The fact that we speak Kazakh went a LONG, LONG way in many a tight circumstance.

Particularly when purchasing radish seeds. (See Liesa's blog for the skinny on that one.)

 

[KatMark]

First, Mary. I enjoyed your introduction. But I am so sorry for all the stress you were under with the money, the Bakers needing extra cash, etc.

Liesa, I don't how you do it. I would have been taken away and locked up as I would have totally lost it when told we needed a stamp and was taking off shortly. You have the patience of a saint.

 

[All7OfUs]

Particularly when purchasing radish seeds. (See Liesa's blog for the skinny on that one.)

Spring is just around the corner, my friend.

First, Mary. I enjoyed your introduction. But I am so sorry for all the stress you were under with the money, the Bakers needing extra cash, etc.

Liesa, I don't how you do it. I would have been taken away and locked up as I would have totally lost it when told we needed a stamp and was taking off shortly. You have the patience of a saint.

If you only knew the truth. I am sitting with Zach and his first day of homework. Toenail plucking would be far more enjoyable. Margharitas anyone?

 

[KatMark]

Spring is just around the corner, my friend.



If you only knew the truth. I am sitting with Zach and his first day of homework. Toenail plucking would be far more enjoyable. Margharitas anyone?

I could do a Grand Mariner slushie with you (fell in love with that Monday at Epcot). I remember those days of homework so fondly--NOT!

 

[All7OfUs]

I could do a Grand Mariner slushie with you (fell in love with that Monday at Epcot). I remember those days of homework so fondly--NOT!

Not to get too terribly ahead of myself, I was not impressed. But a whole lot more on that later.

Homework------ sigh.....

 

[brookelizabeth]

I was a bajillion pages behind.

Maroo - Buster is the perfect name for that kitty due to the situation! Rick is a buster isn't he?! Awfully cute though, and looks like not only the Buster took a liking to Lauren, but Lauren to Buster.

Muffin looks awfully put out in that picture though!

Yes, it was the "normal" thing to do, and felt good. Training is going well, starting with zumba this AM. Never knew I could look so doofus-like before. Seriously need to work on my belly dancing moves. I haven't really RUN since my 5K. I did do a treadmill work out for the first time since returning, and did ok. 2.1 miles in 25 minutes. YOu do the math- not great, not bad.

I've heard of Zumba but haven't a clue what it is....gotta Google!

...

That looks like fun! I have almost no coordination, so I'm sure I would look like a doofus as well!

Oh my goodness - the whole stamp ordeal. Seriously. The adventure never ended right up until the very last second, did it???? Good thing you have the Force on your side through all that!

And some money in your pocket.



Love how the security officer told you how to copy the stamp too. Surprised he didn't try to get $5 off you for that tidbit.