The cha cha trip or Could there be LESS magic, the trip is not ruined yet...!

[dreamer17555]

Okay I love! the mermaid dress but that Belle dress you choose is amazing too.

And not to make your head explode but did you look into the Deluxe Dining Plan? 3 Credits a day (can be used for TS or CS), 2 snacks, and refillable mug. The TS credits do come with App, Entree, Dess, and Drink (for lunch and dinner- breakfast is Entree, Drink, Juice) It is expensive at 69.99 a person a night but it allows tons of flexablity and you could add a few TS here and there (or do what I am doing a do a few 2TS meals- CRT, HDDR, SoA, Cali Grill). It is at least worth checking into.

-Becca-

 

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

Hi all,
I'm really bummed right now. I just learned someone I know is on his death bed (sooo thinking of you and your grandpa right now Becca! ).

It's not someone I'm close to, but it's still hard to think about his death. Trying to explain the ties (there are 3, in my mind, but no, really, there's a fourth).
1) He was Mama's teen friend. They saw each other when my mom went on vacation where Pierre (it's his name) lived. And that was every summer, for a couple of months, for many years. Mama says they weren't close since Pierre was older than she was (and you know, in your teens, when someone is only 12 and you're 15, you feel much, much older! ).
2) He's the father of a childhood friend of mine. Viviane was my best friend in ballet classes for years. (it took a couple of classes for Mama and Pierre to meet, since it was usually her mom who was going to get her. They hadn't seen each other for a while then and it was quite the event to realize their daughters were dancing together and had made friends!).
3) He was that kind man I had started to like and to know all these years. You know, when you see someone long and often enough, they stop being only "my friend's dad" or "my step-sister" or "my mother-in-law" and such. You develop a relation of your own.
4) He also was a friend to other people in Mama's family.

So I'm a little sad for myself, and a little more for Mama who, even though she didn't see Pierre anymore because of life circumstances, is sad to learn of his imminent death and of the suffering of that man she knew;
most of all, I'm so very sad for Viviane, which I hadn't seen in years (even though I would've like to very much). It must be so hard to lose your dad. I don't know how it was after I stopped seeing them, but as a child/pre-teen, she seemed to have a wonderful relationship with her dad... better than with her mom in fact. He really was a great guy.

He has intestinal cancer. Was kind of lucky I understand, since he had been ill for a while and it appears most people die quickly with that kind of cancer. Just hope he really was lucky, and not just suffered a lot for too long.
Now he's in the hospital, in a provoked coma and all equipment has been removed. He'll probably die tonight...
The thought, the image of this man lying in a hospital bed, dying, is too much for me.

Life is so unfair.

 

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

... but don't worry Becca, it's just because of a big headache!

About the D-DDP... Can people with the AP can get it, like the DDP? If so, I would need to crunch numbers again! But still... just right now, in air numbers, I'm not so sure the difference would cut it... especially with the big price difference.
We were mostly short on snack credits... and the deluxe wouldn't make a difference in that department...
We were also short on TS. Now, that would be taken care of, indeed.
But can TS credits be used for CS meals? Because we wouldn't want to add too much TS. First we all know it's hard to get in most TS places without an ADR, and we don't want more ADRs. (maybe same-day ADRs, or last-minute, you know, for the next day, if we see I'm feeling great and we can handle it, and we really want to go someplace). Second, TS meals take much longer than CS and since we'll go slower and will need breaks, we need to maximize park time (or awake and healthy time, call it what you may).
Still, if available for AP guests with a room-only ressie, I'd need to check it out more carefully and crunch some more numbers, just in case. But as I said, we really don't like the loss of flexibility when you enter the "package". And when I say flexibility, I'm talking the 45 days cancellation and such. Plus, Mama was sooo disappointed when she learned you would still need to tip OOP! Now there goes the magic of a DDP...
Of course, there's more in the deluxe DDP, so I'll really look into it (that is, if we can get it!).

Now that aside : I was a mess earlier! I went back to check on "my" dress... and there wasn't any available anymore! And not only the Belle dress, but all the other Little Adventures in my size had disappeared too! No more Cinderella, Snow White, etc. on Amazon! Did people see my pre-tr and gone and took 'em all? Seems a little paranoïd, especially seeing the lack of readers I have but there it was anyways (or should I say : there it wasn't!). I found it back again on another website, but I don't know the shipping fees for Canada yet (hope it'll be OK), and sadly, I can't buy it today to make sure I have it, because my cc is loaded. I'll have to wait until tomorrow or monday (depending on when I'll get my invalidity check... gosh I hate that thing), pay the bills and then buy it.

Now could someone tell me, with so little money, how am I supposed to save up for the trip?! A year ago, when we decided we were finally going, I was hoping I could pay up for at least a third of the expenses. Or for some of the things up to that equivalent. Like the rooms on the way and back, some meals, the gas (since we're driving), and some other little things; plus, of course, all my souvenirs and gifts.
Now, it's clear I won't be able to do that. I paid for the mother's day brunch, since it's a surprise, I paid for all the little things I bought for the trip (Passporter, TGM, Streets and trips program and some other stuff), I still hope I'll be able to pay some more meals and some gas stops... But I sure won't be able to pay for any room and not a lot of meals and I might have to ask Mama to lend me some money for souvenirs and gifts (I don't mean souvenirs for myself).

If I hadn't already told you, the souvenirs I intend to buy for others shouldn't cost much. As for the gifts, it's gifts I would buy anyway during the year (birthday/Christmas gifts for 2008). I just decided that, to help my craving of souvenir buying in Disney and to please some, I'd buy these gifts in WDW. On the plus side, all my shopping will be done at once. On the downside, it'll cost a lot at once. I estimated that all those gifts and souvenirs would easily cost me around 700$... I hope it'll be less, with all the tricks I gathered on the DIS and the Passporter and with my morning in that Disney outlet I don't remember the name of, near WDW. (plus that Mickey dollar store in DTD).
I plan on shopping without buying in the first days and taking notes of what I want (either for myself or as gifts/souvenirs), then my shopping morning is kind of in the middle of the trip. So if I don't find what I want/need at the outlet, I'll have the time to go back and buy the things where I first saw them. I know the outlet doesn't usually carry what's in the stores, but I also know it sometimes happens and that it could also carry something similar at a fraction of the price!

And a big problem with souvenirs, for myself this time, is, since it's my first time and I've had 25 years to think about it and dream about things I'd like, I have many types of souvenirs I want. The list is long and even though I can be reasonable and won't buy an item I don't really like just because in my mind, I wanted this kind of souvenir, there's still a lot. And I know there are probably a lot of things I'm going to want that I'm not even thinking about! But for example, I love snowglobes. I want a Disney snowglobe. I wear a lot of tanktops. I want a Disney one. Mama and I intend on wearing some kind of ears all trip long (either Mickey ears -I love the YOMD ones!- or those that are kind of a headband, like Tigger ears). So we'll buy those! Same thing with the tiaras we'll wear at the PP&P! I'd also want a mini-Xmas decoration for my mini-Xmas tree. I know Mama, who's no souvenir shopper, has her sights set on one souvenir : a Xmas decoration for our tree.
I know many things can and should be bought beforehand because they cost less elsewhere. But the main thing for me is the thrill to know you bought them as a souvenir in WDW during your trip! It's not things I want to use there (like Disney tshirt to wear there!). That's why I want those things so much! Not because it says Disney or has a Mickey on them (well, it doesn't hurt). But because it'll be meaningful and will have a memory attached to it.
Plus, you have to remember... we don't have a Disneystore here and it costs a whole lot to buy from the online one if you live in Canada. On top of it, not a lot of stores here carry Disney items. And I hate ebay!

To close the show :
I started a spreadsheet today. I have a long, long job ahead of me.
You know, the awesome job the Passporter has done with listing all the attractions in each park with mucho information? Fun facts, which side to sit not to get wet, the time the attraction lasts, if a kid would like it, etc.
I also have the Open mouse to WDW, since I'll be in a wheelchair. In that book they have the same listing, but with detailed information about special problems, like noise (overstimulation), smells (asthma), narrow turnstiles (obesity), w/c directions, etc. It's very useful.
I already went on and highlighted all the info that's useful to me in both passporters. I have the .pdf version of the Open mouse, so I could've have just printed the pages needed, highlight again and put them beside the others in my deluxe binder.
But I realized I wouldn't be able to read those listings in the parks before going in an attraction : there was too much information on the page, in a small space, and too much info not related to me or not important when in the park. And to find the highlighted info would be too hard when I would need it quick.
So I started my own list.
I make one line for each info and only put in what will be imported in the park. Like which side to sit on, where to enter when you're in a w/c, the duration of the ride and such. I'll then put that in the passporter pocket for the day, which should be the only planning thing we'll bring to the parks.
I can't know if I'll really take the time to use those lists once there, if I'll really need them either, but at least if I do need/want them, I'll have a clear tool customized for me.
As for the other infos that are still important and very intersting, but that I won't really need in the park, I think I'll just read about that the week before we leave, or the night before we go to that particular park, to have it fresh in mind and familiarize myself...

See ya!

 

[swwake]

Hi Annie-Danielle - love the name, by the way. I don't think I have posted to your PTR yet. But I found you and started reading about a week ago. I think this trip is going to be amazing for you and beyond your wildest dreams. I am so glad you get to enjoy it with your Mom. That will be something neither of you will ever forget.

I just read tonight's posts. First, I am sorry for the illness of your dear friend. I know it can be very tough. Just know that soon his pain will be over forever.

Also, as for the DxDDP - I have crunched a TON of numbers on this. We ended up deciding against even the DDP because it was simply going to be too much food for our family. By my calcs, it saved us about $50 per person, per day *IF* we all order the most expensive items on the menu. Granted, we are planning to do 3 or 4 restaurants that call for 2 TS credits, which is why we (briefly) considered the DxDDP. Our family doesn't eat dessert very often (although the food porn thread really makes me think I might have to at least try dessert everywhere!).

I believe you can get any of the DDPs with an AP, but I think you're right that it becomes part of a package with all the package rules on it. I have read many people comment that the DDE that you can get with the AP is a better deal. I believe it gives you a percent off of every meal at participating restaurants.

Oh and one more answer to your questions - on the DxDDP, you get 3 TS credits a day that may be used for either TS or CS.

I look forward to reading more! I hope you can find that Belle dress you want. It is a beauty!

 

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

Hi Swwake! And to my PTR! I'll make sure to find some time to go and see yours too!
Thanks for the info, and the kind words!

I'm almost blown away each time I have a new reader! I'll really try to be funnier and make it shorter in the TR!

In the meantime : The Belle dress is ordered!
What a relief when I found that other store! Because Amazon still didn't have any of them! It's a mystery to me how they all disapeared in 24hrs!!! The fees for shipping to Canada were very good, and to my relief they offered USPS. So all in all the dress cost less than 55$ and unless there's a problem, I shouldn't have to pay more than 5$ in customs service fees. And since the price is pretty low, the taxes won't be too much either (it's about 15%). Now let's just pray it really fits!!! (Mama's negativity sometimes rub off!... So now I'm scared it's a smallish 16, you know, like some models or makes are smaller than others). I should see soon... The good thing is I ordered soon enough to be able to find something else if it really doesn't fit. Or to order the "fullness slip our model wears for a more complete look" would I deem the dress too dull without it (but let's remember there's a big chance I'll be sitting more than anything else and a fullness slip would itch. But mostly, who needs a fullness dress look when sitting...

Argh, I feel awful! One of those days! First, I had to eat to take my night medicine, so I just ate a chewy bar with a liquid yogurt... But we ate late tonight so it hadn't even been 2 hours since we ate a huge chicken BBQ meal (I had almost 6 chicken strips, some coleslaw and a couple of fries... with BBQ sauce! I'm not used to eat a lot!). And I had just drank a huge glass of orange juice. Feel like I'll explode.
Plus all my joints are throbbing with pain and my hands are swollen (not because of my aches, but because of blood pressure trouble. Uncomfortable nonetheless).
Doesn't make it easy to write, but I'm getting more and more addict , and with the trip getting closer, more and more is happening, too!

So what about that DDA attack!?
Until yesterday, I didn't know what were the DDA. All I knew was that there was a thread about creative DISings somewhere on the DIS.
And then, yesterday, I was working on my Excel spreadsheets of attractions info (going swell by the way. I'm done with MK and one-third of Epcot is done too). I started realizing that it would be easier to spot the attractions if they were identified by icons (they were already in aphabetical order, by land). The way my spreadsheets re done, I don't have space to write the whole name of the land beside each square of attraction info; besides, it would be easier just to have the initials with a logo of some sort : quicker to spot.
So I started a hunt for cliparts to characterize Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Future Wolrd, etc. Of course, its only when I had finished that I found the website that had the real lands logos! But I think I would've needed to shrunk them too much to have them recognizable anyways and so my icons are still better, which is a good thing, because it would've been very frustrating!
It's a USA flag for Liberty square, a fairy wand for Fantasy land, a spaceship for Tomorrowland, a parrot for Adventureland, a stupid road sign for Main street (I had the hardest time trying to find something better like a street name sign), a pickaxe symbol for Frontierland and our very own for Toontown.
I also took an exclamation point to identify the attractions Mama cannot do because of her motion sickness, and this for ones with Fastpass.
As for Epcot, I only have Future World East figured as of now. And since it's the part with Spaceship Earth (and since I couldn't find the "ball" icon anywhere), I found an earth globe divided in little squares and looking a little like Spaceship earth, so it was good enough for me (especially after almost an hour of searching!).

So, I was looking for clipart. And I don't even remember exactly how, but I came to the DIS looking for some, I think. And I fell. I don't know if it's in hell or heaven... probably in limbo!
What I found litteraly prevented me from going to sleep last night because there were so many new ideas I hadn't thought about and I was trying to figure out how to make them work or fit them in my schedule!

Oh, yeah, DDA stands for Disney Design Addicts, by the way... guess you were starting to wonder if I'd ever tell ya! (see, I just went to verify I got the acronym right, and I almost was sucked right in again!).
When on another thread, I had read "whatch out, it's additcive". OMG! It's so true!
So : WATCH OUT, IT'S ADDICTIVE! There, I warned you!

OK, So i knew about mousekeeping envelopes and intended on making one for each and every day we'd be there. I even intended on buying little fun stuff from here (Quebec), like pins, stickers, buttons or what not (really, nothing costing more than the tip we'll be putting in the envelopes! I'm poor, remember!?), to put in at least some of them, because I read mousekeepers liked to receive those small things from all over the world. And, honestly, it's not because I'm hoping for towel animals or more shampoo. Of course I'm hoping for towel animals! But I mean it's not at all the reason behind this. It's just I love craft and even though it's not something you're supposed to say : I'm a genuinly giving person. So when I learned about people doing these things, I immediatly thought "oh! How fun! How sweet! I must do this!". Only much later did I found out some mousekeepers reacted "very positively" to these kind gestures.
Back to the mousekeeping envelopes :
At first I thought of using the envelopes designs found on the DIS or on some other websites, but I realized that, except for some of them, I prefered making my own and only using the DIS ones as inspiration.
I also learned about some people, especially on the DISabilities boards, putting some awareness and/or information message in or on envelopes, like about autism or orphan illnesses they suffer from. Especially if they've asked for a special room or special service because of that illness. Since I suffer from 2 illnesses that lack awareness, I'm wondering if I should do the same, like maybe translate/adapt a business card I made for our local association. The card was for CFS and FM, with info on one side and the association's coordinates on the other side. I could put only CFS info on one side and EDS info on the other. Plus, I could use that card, in french, for other purposes, the work wouldn't be lost! I mean, sure maybe the mousekeeper could not care and just put it in the trash, but maybe she would care and read it, and if she would, it'd be one more person with knowledge about those illnesses. And for CFS, knowledge is our only weapon against predjudice.
I also thought of using the blue ribbon (official CFS color... I didn't found an official color or ribbon for EDS... maybe I could use the zebra design, which symbolizes the orphan illnesses... Remind me to tell you the story behind that!), like some use the pink ribbon of breast cancer or the puzzle ribbon of autism on their envelopes. It's just a way of raising awareness in the whole process... I'd really want to do it, but I wouldn't want to do something that's out of place.

I also knew about CM thank you cards and had decided to make a bunch so I would always have one to give out in case. Again, I decided to use and modify the ones I found on the DIS and on some other website.
I even had decided to make myself a couple of ID business cards, some on the model of the CM thank you cards, but adding my email (I don't know, in case theres a problem, like I lose something and I want to have my info easily given to a CM to reach me... or if the CM's a really cute guy! ) and one more general, but still Disney-themed, maybe with my DIS username, but not only for the DIS. Like for when you meet someone fun and want to keep in touch. Instead of running around to find a pen and paper, I'll have a card to give out.

...But I didn't know about the restaurants tip enveloppes!!! (or thank you cards, in the case you charge everything to your KTTW card, credit, or have it prepaid like CRT).
Since we don't intend on carrying cash, I'll do the thank you card versions. But I found this super fun and thoughful! Each card designed especially for the restaurant!

But the attack came from the Tshirt DISings...
I knew about people creating their own Tshirts for their trips. I thought it was cute, most of the time. But it was like something that "happened to other people"... Because we don't wear Tshirts! Also because we can't order from Disneyshopping nor from Zazzle (I went to their website twice and each time marvelled... and each time was so disappointed I couldn't buy from them because they ship with UPS and it would cost me a fortune in customs service fees... mostly "hidden/having-to-pay-after-the-fact", fees. That's how UPS works for across the border shipping. As long as it's in-country, either state to state or province to province, they're OK. But don't ever use them to ship from the USA if you live in Canada!).
But then I realized I could make the designs, print them on iron-transfer paper and transfer that on... Tank-tops!!! We wear that!!!
Ooooooh, A world of possibility opened up. And what a big world!
So I started looking at the designs. So many of them.
I had trouble going to bed, thinking of designs, of what could go in front of what back...
Today I asked Mama her opinion. She thought a top to go with the skirt and tiara would be great for the P&PP (since she won't dress up).
She agreed for one "mother and daughter trip" top. But she wouldn't want more than that.
I'll make two "mother and daughter trip" tops. And the P&PP party top.
Plus probably 6 more for me!

Well... that's if I'm able to find tops that'll be the good size, good fabric and good color for transfer... And if I'm able to get my printer to work OK again (right now, it prints the blacks perfect, but not the colors. I do have my professional photo printer, but I would very much prefer not using it for that!).

I had some ideas (OK, a huge amount of ideas!). Of course that's just a rough start and I'll put them on here once I'll have them done.
*For the P&PP one, well I don't have much, sadly. I'm not inspired, probably because Mama's not either and I can't do something too far fetched for her...
I may go with one I found from one DDA with the black MickeyHead, cinderella sitting in a chair on one side and "Pirate and Princess Party" written inside. I think I'd put it on the front and put a pink MickeyHead with a crown with "Queen Mom" written inside on the back.
If I was sure I'd be in the w/c, I'd put "Designated driver" with cinderella's coach in the back instead... But I've decided that, if we realize I'm healthy enough, we'll leave the chair at the resort so I really feel like a princess that night...
Of course, if the tops are really cheap, I could afford to make the 2 versions!

*For the 1st mom/daughter one, I'll use the Aristocats Mom and Marie (I don't know the name of the Mama cat?!).
On the front, I'll put the image of the 2 cats with "Mother and daughter trip" on top and "Disney World May 2008" on bottom
On the back, our shirts will be different.
Mama's shirt : Mama cat, with either her name (Ginette) or "Mama" on top, and either "Just scratchin the surface" or "Having a purrrfect time" on bottom.
Mine : Marie, with either my name or "Baby" (See, I have a problem here. I don't care being called her "baby" at all. Problem is, I feel "baby" is what a boyfriend would call me if I had one, not my mom... I don't fancy "daughter" either. I mean. "daughter" is the mirror of "mother". But what is the mirror of "mommy" or "mama"?! Is there something else then "baby"? What does a mom call her kid that's not a baby... nor a kid really?. For that particular shirt, it could be "kitty"; if not what about "kiddy" or "kiddo". Any idea? or preferences?).
Ad the same message as Mama's on the bottom.

*For the 2nd mom/daughter :
Different fronts :
Mine : Crown with "princess" written in it. Maybe add my name on top.
Mama's : Crown with "Queen mom" written in it. Maybe add her name on top.
Same backs : Fairy godmother and Cinderella (front of castle or coach). "Where dreams come true" on top. "WDW mother/daughter trip 2008" on bottom.

I have numerous ideas for other tops for me. Most of them with Tink , one of my favorite characters.

*One would be with her, my name on top and the quote "a pinch of pixie dust and a dash of attitude" on the bottom
Maybe the back would be one that I saw with her sitting with a mean face with the quote "don't even Tink about it" on top and "WDW May 2008" on bottom.

*I'd like one with "Very first Disney trip" on top and "Bring on the magic" or "Bring on the pixie dust" on bottom. Of course, the second quote is if it's Tink on the design!

*I'd like another with the message "Dreams do come true" with "25 years to WDW May 2008". Maybe with, on that shirt's back, the castle and Tink flying, with one single word "Dream" (it's a DISign I found and it's so cool!)

I have to remember that most of the time, people will only see the front of my tops...
But I'd like to put some on the back too, mostly because I'm excessive, so once I start, I can't stop, so putting some designs on the back lets me putting more designs total! Of course if transfer paper is too expensive I won't have the choice, but if not, I'll just won't have to chose as much!

*I saw a wonderful DISign of Enchanted's Giselle, sitting with a bird on her knee, with the saying "First visit in the land of enchantment" on top and I could add "WDW May 2008" in bottom. I also saw a beautiful design of many creatures (Thumper, forest birds and other kind of animals from Cinderella, Bambi and such) saying something like "twitterpatter", I would put it on the back, since those kind of creatures are my favorites in Disney's world and are close with Enchanted's world..

*I didn't find anything ready-made or easy to custom-made about Thumper, my absolute favorite character, but I'd like to try and make one. What do you think about that, and is that something that could make sense in Disney :
Thumper (doing his thumping paw stuff, if possible), with "Having a thumpering time!" or something that could fit, in that spirit... I really would like to have something with my lovely Thumper and a message that could reflect his feet thumping!
On the back of that shirt I could put Bambi and Tumper, or the whole Bambi gang (as long as we see Thump!) with the now classic "WDW May 2008". Or instead of the Bambi thing, just a "I (heart) Thumper". Any suggestions?

*Of course, for Mothers day, I won't tell mama, but I was thinking of making another set for both of us. I saw one that was swell. It was Cindy and godmother and there was the message "Mothers can do magic" or something like that, and then "mother's day 2008". I would either take that one and keep it like it is, and make Mama's one to match (I have some design stuff of the godmother), or I could use this and modify. Or I'll make another set completely.
What I know is I want mine to point to hers. Like Mama's to say "I'm a mother, wish me happy mother's day" (not as bluntly, but that's the point). And mine to say "she's my mom, I love her, it's mother's day, do what you gotta do".


As for the other stuff... I also want signs for my w/c. Some in the DISabilities decorate theirs, or so I've heard. I want to decorate mine anyways.
But I can't do stupid things, like glue drawings or put stickers on it. As much as I love Disney, I'll have to live with that chair for trips elsewhere, including the mall and museums here in Quebec... and I have a feeling I won't want to face the looks people would give me if I had Mickey Mouse faces or Princesses on my chair, being an adult. Or maybe that would just make people think the chair is because I'm mentally ill... Which I really don't need!

On top of that, I can't put designs on the back of the chair. First because Mama's always going to be behind it if I'm in it, second because we already decided to leave our baggalini lime string bag on it all the time!
But I have 2 sides. And those sides are full (I can't pass my arms through the seat and the armrest). They can flip up (like if I want to get closer to a table), but I realized, if I print the design on a paper, glue it to a cardboard, put that in a plastic envelope, cut that to the right size and attach it with either ribbons or tie-wraps, I'll have signs on each side of the chair!!! And I've already find the ideas!
1- "Used to be a pumpkin". I don't know if I'll put clipart or not. If I do put clipart, I have two choices. Either I put a big one of Cindy's coach behind the message or a pumpkin at one end and the coach at the other.
2-"Princess riding in style" or "Riding the World in style". If I didn't use the coach image on the other side, I could use it here. And/or, I could use an image of Cindy on one side of the message and of flying Tink on the other.
...Instead of one of these 2 messages, I wondered about "Pimped my pumpkin"... You know, following the trend of "pimp my ride", "pimp my motorcycle" and such. But I wouldn't want to offend anyone (after all, we'll be in Disney and it's not everyone that's familiar with those shows. Even I don't watch them, I just know about them!). And maybe that's not as funny and as easy to catch as "princess riding in style" or "Riding the World in style"...
Which one do you prefer?

Finally, I had thought of buying us a set of name tags at Disney. Mostly because, with french names, I didn't want to have to bother and spell our names all the time or repeat them over and over. And it would be easier if ever an autograph I got was one where my name would be included : my name would be spelled right!
But as I looked at the DISigns, I realized some of them could work as a name tag. And since we got ourselves the Passporter pouches (they got a transluscent, plastic space fit for an ID card... or name tag!), I realized I would just need to print us each a name card and if we'd put it on that space in the PP pouch, CMs and other people would be able to read our names as well as if we'd wear a regular name tag. Or at least, I'll try it before leaving, and we'll only buy the Disney tags if it doesn't work!

I hesitate between a Tink and Marie (Artistocats) design. There's also the classic design, the one that looks like the original Disney name tag (oval). If we go for the character thing, I'll ask Mama to chose her favorite character and I'll make her one too. (and don't worry, I'll make at least 2 copies of each, so if we either lose or tear one, we'll be OK!

I'm really happy about all those art projects . I've always loved art, creating and such. In fact, most of the time, I feel like creating something or doing something artsy... but don't know what to do or where to start... Now I have a ton of projects (maybe too much!) and I even have inspiration!
I've always wanted to try iron-transfer too.
But now, I'm a little scared because it's really a lot to do!!! And only 55 days left!

Lucky I quit my volunteer job with the local association of CFS/FM... I'll really need to put all my energies into this! (and I really shouldn't be spending so many hours typing on the DIS!... remember it takes me double the time it takes you!).

In fact, I realize it's really too late. I decided I needed to begin a more regular sleeping pattern and want to try maintaining it for the almost 2 months leading to the trip, to give me all chances of being healthy with the most energy I can have, and not being up around 10 and sleepy at 9. Well, it can't give me miracles, but last time I did that, it seemed to help a little.

So I really need to try and go to bed around midnight. No sooner unless I'm sick with a virus or I really can't stay awake... and get up at 9 (with the use of the alarm clock if needed), unless I need to get up earlier. The idea is to get the 9 hours of sleep per night I used to need before I got sick (I didn't say I took them then! . I'm saying a good, refreshing night was when I slept 9 hours : 10-11 was too much, 7-8 not really enough).
Now I could sleep almost all day, because sleep is never refreshing. If I sleep for 8 hours, get up to pee, and go back to bed, I can sleep for another 8 hours. I don't feel better when I wake up, never. In fact, most of the time I feel worst.
Anyway. Back to the point. And last : to be able to do that : add naps if needed. And that's the catch : Since I'm always tired at the same level, more or less, I can't nap anymore. Well I never was... Before, I just couldn't nap, period. I wasn't able to sleep in the day. Now, I can't nap meaning if I go to sleep, whenever it is, it cannot be for a short time. My body is so drained, I'm fighting sleep so much all the time (I could pretty much fall asleep whenever I rest and it's calm, because I'm so drained and hurt so much, but I fight it all the time to have the fullest life I can), that when I finally give up fighting, or when my body's giving up and I don't have the choice of a "nap", and I go to bed in the afternoon, if I fall asleep, I fall so deeply that I just can't wake up after an hour or two. What happens most of the time is that I miss dinner, wake up shortly to eat something light because I have to take my medication, and go back to bed for the night...
So I'll have to fight it even more. Take a real nap if I have to rest in the afternoon... Because in Disney I won't want to sleep more than 2 hours in the afternoon!!!

OK, see you next time!

 

[bluedolph1n]

Just stopped by to say hi, and subscribe to your thread, I will read it soon! ( it is a little hectic with some birthdays coming up and working )

 

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

Hey! Welcome bluedolph1n!

First, the good day with the pixie dust... meaning yesterday. Well, it didn't start good and didn't look as though Tink was going to sprinkle her thing our way. At all.
See, me and Mama were going to see my physiatrist to have a Synvisc injection in my left knee. I had the same injections in the right one 2 months ago and since it had help a little, we were going for another series of 3 appointments (once weekly for 3 weeks).
That's when the full amplitude of the brain fog that hits with CFS came into light : we were halfway there (it's a 1 hour drive to get there) when I realized I didn't have the Synvisc with me! (it's the stuff the doctor needs to put in the seringe to inject in my knee). Not only didn't I have it : I even had forgotten to order it! See, it's something pharmacies don't have in stock, so you need to order it at least one day in advance...
The thing was, when you order it, you get the 3 doses at once. So I had ordered it only once for the right knee, almost 3 months ago, so in my mind, ordering that stuff at the pharmacy 2 days before the appointment wasn't automatic...
So we had to stop the car and do a bunch of phonecalls (hurray for cellphones!). I called my pharmacy first hoping they would have some in stock by some miracle... Even though it would've meant going back and being late at least half an hour to the doctor... But of course they did not have any. "They'd be happy to order some for the next day"... yay, very useful.

...I had my pocket PC with me, but all the info on it had disappeared some weeks ago (never understood what happened), and I hadn't put the info back yet. So I didn't have the doctor's # with me. I had to call the operator... problem is, I didn't have the adress nor exact name of the clinic (my doctor changed clinic recently... I'm not that stupid)! Luckily, I was able to get the number of the orthesis office which receptionnist is working just beside my doctor's! She must have found it pretty weird when I asked her to transfer me!
(in fact, she couldn't, so she just gave me the right number...)
So I called the doctor's office and... after 5 minutes on hold and being hung up on , called again and explained the problem (well... maybe I told them the pharmacy wasn't able to get the stuff in time...). I remembered there was a pharmacy near the doctors... I asked the receptionnist if he thought they'd have some in stock. He was sure of it, as many patients got their Synvisc there before their apps. But of course, he didn't have the number. So it was the operator again. But this time it was worst : I didn't have the right street names of the pharmacy. I must admit, as frustrated as I was, it was quite a funny moment when the automated voice offered me 4 different franchises and I answered "none" to "for which one would you like the #?"... Then again, I was lucky, because when I told the little I knew about the pharmacy's location to the operator (live one this time) she immediatly knew which one it was and gave me the #.
But then... they didn't have any Synvisc in stock.
So back to calling the doctor's office to tell the other receptionnist the sad news (for me), that I couldn't make it to my app and to please check if I could get a third app after my 2 others in 3 weeks or if I would have to postpone the whole thing. She put me on hold for a while and then came back to tell me maybe my doctor had some Synvisc in his office... But she didn't know for sure and would need to call me back with the answer...
So I gave her my cellphone number and we went back driving to Montreal. In the end, we didn't get the call and got to the doctors only a couple of minutes late.
But it wasn't for nothing : he had the stuff!!!
I don't know if it was to make me pay for the trouble and for being a little late, but we had to wait for more than an hour!!! (it's unusual with him).
So next time I'll give him 2 bottles instead of one, one for the injection, and one to replace the one he used for me and keep in his office for the next unlucky patient!
Thanks for the pixie dust Tink!


And then I ran out of pixie dust... It's never good for me to overdo things. Do to much. And that includes going out for 2 consecutive days. (Yes, Disney scares me. But I know the adrenaline can keep me going for a long time before crashing, plus it's really not the same and I'll be in the wheelchair).

On Monday, we went to Costco... which is about a 45min. drive for us. Plus we made a stop (per my request) at Deserres, which is a craft store, for scrpabooking stuff and 3 fabric pen (burgundy, navy blue and black) for my Disney autographs, which I'd want on a hoodie (if only I can find one I like). And I drove to get there (I couldn't to get back though).
Which meant we left the house at 11am and got back around 4pm and walked a lot in between. Then we had to unpack what we bought under the watchful eye and graceful and friendly comments of my drunk dad.

Yesterday, because of the doctor's appointement, and the fact it's in Montreal, which means traffic jam most of the time and uncertainty, we left at 9h15am for a 10h30app. Afterwards we went to my grandma's. Since I just had my injection and was pooped from Monday, I stayed at her place while they went shopping. They came back around 6pm and after giving grandma a crash course in digitalTV (which I had just installed) we went to the restaurant for dinner. To our dismay, there was an awful singer... broadcasted way too loud on too many speakers across the restaurant. So I topped off that wonderful day with overstimulation.
We were supposed to go swimming (Grandma now lives in a superb elderly -but independant- residence with indoor swimming pool, among other things), but even if I would've just floated there, it would've exhausted me some more and it was already 9pm... and we had a one hour drive ahead of us.

So because of all that stuff pf the last 2 days, I'm exhausted and the pixie dust is nowhere to be seen (don't know what it could do, really).
I spent the day sleeping, quite litterally. Woke up early this morning, just enough to eat breakfast and watch the snowstorm roar on. The snowpellets made it hard for me to went back to sleep, felt like someone was standing outside my window throwing little rocks... But I felt so bad and my headache was poundering so hard that I couldn't do anything else, couldn't even play with my iPod to organize my songs. Kind of feels like I have the flu and like I've been up for 24hours at the same time (and trust me, I know what it feels like, I used to work night shifts while going to university... on the day shift, of course. I did many 30-48hrs "shifts")
Then I woke up at lunch to eat a little and went almost straight back to sleep. Woke up again at dinner... Didn't go back to sleep yet, I came here! But as for most of the times I'm here, I'm sitting in bed with my laptop (altough, I must say that since I use Safari/Mac on my main computer, and the editing/WYSIWYG function doesn't work on it, I much prefer DISing on my laptop... which is on my bed! But it's sadly not the main reason).

I realize I'll never have all my music organized on my iPod in time for the trip. So I'm trying to at least make my "road" playlist, because that'll be the most important : good music for the drive down! Of course, while away from home is when I'm listening my iPod the most, so it would be fun to have the music organized, the lyrics and album covers embedded, the songs classified (helps for playlist) and mostly, have the EQ done, so the classical or acoustic songs are loud enough, and the heavy metal songs clear, etc. This setting is the most important to me, especially since I did sound mixing classes... But this is also why it takes me a looong time to set them for each song : I need to listen carefully to each one and try many settings to decide which one sounds the best! And since I have more than 10 000 songs on my iPod... Well...

So... sorry for the dull post and back to bed (gosh I hate those days!)

 

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

Hey. Sorry for my title. But I am.


No, I didn't went back right to bed after all.
See, some information crawled back to my fogged mind. I did see the photocopies of a May P&PP tickets in a PTR in the last days, didn't I?
This must mean they are being sold right now!
I intended to buy them as soon as they were.
I also intended on buying the AP this week.
I don't remember if I told you this, but we were waiting for Mama to take some money out of an account to pay for the APs (she was to have some interests being paid around this time of year and was going to wait for that to get the money out).
We want to buy the APs before we get there for 2 reasons : 1st, it will be something paid. 2nd, with the voucher, we'll be able to buy the DDE and have access to some advantages of the AP right away (like buy the P&PP tickets at discount price, maybe be assured of VIP sitting at the P&PP special parade and I should be able to get in the AP website to learn about all the perks and news that are hard to find. Even between All ears and the DIS, sometimes informations can be missing or contradicting).

So, with the reality of what I seen on that PTR post (May P&PP tickets out) creeping in, I checked the info on the WDW website... and it's true : they're selling!
Of course I wasn't doubting the OP, but myself. Maybe I was confused between 2 PTR or I read wrong, etc.
Even the June P&PP tickets can already be bought!
Oh, I know I shouldn't worry, TGM says those events never got sold out and I could even wait until I get there, see what the weather channel predict and buy them the week of the event... But what if it's getting more popular? What if everyone from the DIS who's going in May buys tickets? What if, what if, what if? I really wouldn't want to buy that dress and not get a ticket! Plus, I simply really want to go!

But I can't buy the tickets if I don't have the AP voucher, because even though I may get a credit afterwards, it's not the same and most importantly, it's not a sure thing...

The interests were paid on Mama's account, finally, but she didn't transfer the money yet. But, she said I could go with buying the APs since the
P&PP tickets are out and we had an understanding : we didn't want to wait! Mama is not worried about the P&PP tickets going sold out or missing that party too much... but she wants to have as much paid as soon as possible.

So I went on the AP page... And I couldn't click on "buy now". I got an error message saying "that product cannot be bought online". Now it didn't make sense, everyone on the DIS bought their APs online! So I thought it was because I was using Firefox : sometimes instead of simply telling you you're using an incompatible browser, things like that happen. So I opened Explorer and started again. This time, the "buy now" button simply didn't work! It wasn't greyed out, it was just not responsive. I opened a new window, tried many things and was starting to get mad when I went back to Firefox and started again. This time, it worked! No error message.
So I completed all the information, credit card, etc. I had a hard time choosing between "will call" and shipping. Because I didn't know if by choosing "will call" I would get the voucher number I'll need to buy the DDE and get into the special AP webpage... But the international shipping didn't say if the company was UPS, Purolator or USPS, and I was scared of the duties and customs service fees I would have to pay if it wasn't USPS (if it's up to 30$ on a 75$ order, what would it be on almost 1000$!). But since the shipping fee was only 10$ and the idea behind ordering now was mainly to be able to order the other things with the voucher number, I didn't take a chance and chose shipping.

And then it happened. When I hit "continue", a new error message appeared : "this product cannot be sold online where your billing information indicates" or something like that. What? We can't buy the AP?
I thought it was because I had chose shipping, but no, even with "will call", it did the same thing.
A short research on the DIS let me know that Canadians and Australians (don't know for others) can't buy the AP online and have to pay a heck of a long distance phone call to buy it. At least I'm lucky : theres at least a way I can buy it before getting there... and they do ship to Canada, because they don't ship to Australia! And it appears I should receive it pretty fast.
I didn't call yet, too tired. I already have a few calls to make tomorrow, it'll be one more to add to the list.
Not offering a 800# is, I think, what offends me the most about Disney. Now, come one, I really don't buy their logic here. Is it : "they're going to spend enough money here, why not make them pay a little more", or is it "in case they just call to ask ifnormation, we should have them pay"? Maybe it's only because they're scared they'd get too many calls if it didn't cost as much and now people really think about it before calling. But if it's the idea behind that, it's not a good way to manage that problem.
Really, I don't know. But when you hand out free planning DVDs, have a super media filled website and many other costly customer-related stuff, I don't see why you couldn't have a free international phone number. When there are some things people can't do through a travel agent or the web, they shouldn't have to pay humongus fees! Some poeple spend thousands of dollars in your company, and you won't spend for a 800# so they can call freely?

As for the AP vs web thing, I really find it stupid. Why advertize international shipping if you don't do it? Why not make a clear notice about which countries can't buy it online (and why don't explain why? Obviously, if I can buy the voucher by phone and get it shipped, it's not the shipping!? And if it's a shipping problem, offer only "will call"!). Come on, we're in 2008 people!
So it means I have to wait until I get the voucher, which will be at least a week, before I can buy the P&PP ticket. Unless I can get the CM to give me my voucher # on the phone, but I'm ready to bet money they won't have that # available.
Unless... unless that CM, which will know I just bought 2 APs is the one selling me those tickets... because I'll make sure of asking if the policy is the same for the P&PP tickets (meaning I couldn't buy those tickets online either) and all the same, if there's the possibility of buying the 2 types of tickets at the same time, it would be easier. Hey, if it's possible, I could even buy the DDE! Take care of all in one call!
But that's all if the CM can handle it like he has the voucher # in front of him... if in the system, it's written that we are AP holders, so we have the DDE and the P&PP tickets at the right price... We'll see...

I think I already said it, but it's not because I love Disney and it's magic that I can't see the bugs and the stupidity.
My dad is not coming with us because he doesn't see the magic and only sees the bugs. He even amplifies them and exaggerates all of what is bad in the World (like the crowds, the lines, the heat, the commercial aspect). I'm not like that at all. But I'm not naïve either, I don't have pink glasses and I don't pretend nothing of those bad (or less glamorous) things are there. I either try to deal with them, be positive, etc.
But sometimes, some things make me plain angry.

I hope next time I'll have better news!

 

[swwake]

I have a sneaky feeling that you'll be able to take care of all three (AP, P&PP, DDE) in one phone call, if not with the same CM. Once they have you on the phone and willing and ready to spend money, they won't be quick to let you go.

Good luck with the phone calls tomorrow! Rest well.

 

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

Now, what a day...

First, I read the newspaper's frontpage : "Biggest snowstorm in 32 years yesterday... And it's not over yet!"
... Yep. We had about 7 inches of snow, with howling winds and the total accumulation would've been way more if we didn't have as much in ice pellets. There were many roads (and schools) closings, many accidents...
And now, they're talking of yet another snowstorm, starting tomorrow, which should go on for the whole weekend! We're expecting between 7 and 15 inches!!! With, of course, winds howling even more than they were yesterday... (around 50 miles an hour, with gusts at more than 70... I hate, really hate high winds, especially since we had a tornado here when I was young. It's not that I'm afraid, well not anymore, or at least, not most of the time, not unless it's really fierce gusts, but I still hate it. Our old house in the middle of the fields creaks and shivers and it can be so noisy...).
Like it wasn't enough, they're predicting a possible third storm next week...
Will this winter ever stop??? I mean, I prefer snow to ice, but I mostly like snow between the 20th of December and the 5th of January... meaning : for the holidays...
Cities don't know where to put the snow they're removing from the streets anymore and these huge snowbanks will take forever to melt, so our spring will kind of be delayed...

After that news that almost had me spilled my milk across the table, I had a lot of calls to make.
1) to 2 credit card companies (cancel a balance insurance and transfer a credit that I was due but wasn't getting)
2) to the human resources services of the hospital where I used to work (the government made a law for equity between male and female workers and their pays, and even though I didn't work anymore, I received a retroactivity payment... and I'm pretty sure there was a mistake and I received less than I should've. I had called almost a year ago about this, had to leave a message and they never called me back. Since I had other things on my mind, I let months go by. Now was the time to deal with this! Sadly, I didn't get an answer. They'll send me a detailed calculation sheet. And since it wasn't them who made the calculation, but an independant firm hired by the government, if I find mistakes in that detailed info, I need to find the government service that dealt with the equity and call them directly. A lot of fun in sight! But I really hope there was a mistake, since it could mean up to 2000$ more in my pocket! I hope that, if there's a mistake, I could get the money before we leave for WDW!!!).
3) then I called my beautician to add a bikini epilation to my other treatments on my next appointment (after all, I'll be in a swimsuit in WDW!).
4) Finally, I called WDW to buy the APs!!!

OMG do they make you pay that long distance call! All those choices, all those questions, all that time the CM takes to verify and check your info twice and triple... Not counting the fact the system was (as CM said) soooo slow!
At least, that CM was really nice.

Sadly, I couldn't get the DDE on the same call, and the CM told me there was no way I could get the AP voucher number before getting them in the mail... I had read otherwise on the DIS : some DISers said they had called back tix services after at least 2 hours and the CM was then able to give them the voucher #, which was in the system.... but the CM told me the only thing in the system would be my order confirmation # and the voucher # would only be on the voucher themselves and were never entered in the system... I guess I could call back tomorrow and check, but since I should get the vouchers in max 2 weeks, I don't see the point of paying that much long distance fees. Even if I wouldn't be able to receive the DDE card in time, I would be able to get one at Epcot, and that's the important part.
The CM really tried to find if there was another way for me to get the vouchers, or vouchers #, faster, since I told her I wanted them ASAP, especially for the DDE.

I found it sweet that the CM tried to say my village name in french!

So it didn't work for the DDE... But it did for the P&PP! I aksed if I could get the AP pricing since I had just bought the AP, and she checked and said yes, since in the system we were stated as AP guests.

I was happy at that information, since I was worried I'd need to make another call after receiving the APs, in case I couldn't buy the P&PP tix online either, being canadian...
Plus, it combined the orders in one and saved the shipping!
It only cost 3$ and it's (relief sight) with USPS. So no hidden customs service fees.
The total, with both APs and P&PP tix, plus shipping, was 1038$. Yep, ouch.

I should receive both sets of tix at the latest on the 20th. The CM said to call if ever I didn't get them by then.

I can't wait to have those in hand!!!

Mama couldn't believe how much the AP cost. I needed to remind her all the calculations told the same story : it was the best deal in the end! The Passporter table, at least 2 website interactive features (including touring plans) and my own calculations...
The fact that we're going for 14 days and will be park hopping makes the AP a better deal. And that doesn't even includes the discounts on tours (like the Backstage magic tour), on special events (like the P&PP), on merchandise (in many stores), on meals (in many restaurants), on admission (like at the waterparks or PI), on our room (200$!) and gives us the opportunity to get the DDE (more discounts!!!).
What conviced her was the fact that, if we bought the max. MYW tix (10) w/ park hopper and decided to go to the parks for just one more day, it would cost as much as taking the AP (and would not give us any discounts!). And we wouldn't be able to park hop on that day, or would need to pay even more... And what if we wanted to go to the parks for more than 11 days?
The thing is, at first she thought : "it's perfect that the max. tix is 10 days, because maybe Dan will be too sick to go out to the parks for more than 10 days anyways. But if she's well, we'll just buy more tix as we need them".
Problem is, she didn't know it isn't meant that way and it costs more to go safe than to buy for more days up front. But even 10MYW + 4MYW w/park hopper tix cost more than 1AP.
Only, Mama keeps forgetting that calculation when faced with the huge amount of money the AP costs. It wouldn't be better with 10+4MYW w/park hopper tix, I'm sure. In that case, she would just say "couldn't we just take less in case you can't do it all?" or something...

Aaaaaah, I'm so happy this part's done! Another step in the direction of getting this more real!

We're already talking of "the next one", the trip we'd like to take in 2012, where we'd make a split trip between Universal and WDW; to see the Harry Potter "park-in-a-park", and Universal as a whole, since we won't have seen it at all (it will be a first for both of us), and to see WDW in Xmas mood. We're thinking the 2 first weeks of december. But it's all very far ahead. A lot could happen but it's good to dream and to plan, and I know it's the best way not to get depressed after this one trip!
Anyways, what we were saying is the next one won't be as "high end" as this one. This one is not that "high end" at all, but like Mama said, we're trying to put as much as we can in (and because we can), so my first experience is really out of this world and full of magic. But next time it'll probably be in a value resort, with less good restaurants (or more fast food, put it as you want), no costly tour, no Cirque du Soleil, etc. I'll be fighting for the Xmas party, but at least, there won't be a costume to pay for... And maybe we'll fly, because I think it costs less than driving (remember, since I'm ill, we have to take it slow, so it costs more in motel nights and meals, and thus, maybe more than flying).
I'm curious to see if we'll still think the same after the trip!

So I'll go waiting for the mail...

 

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

That's it!
I just lost it!
I don't know why it happened now...
Oh, it's not the first time....

I was reading a PTR, after many hours of compiling attraction info (for my spreadsheet), and it hit me : I'm really, really, going to Disney! It's true!
After all these years, all this time dreaming about that trip of a lifetime, it's going to happen!!!
...So I started to cry. I'm all chocked up. So happy it hurts.

The room is reserved and partly paid. The APs are paid and shipped (I received the email today that I should get them on Monday!!!), my Belle costume for the P&PP is ordered, paid and shipped; P&PP for which the tickets are also paid and shipped...
The ADRs are made and some meals are even paid... The Backstage tour is paid.
I mean, it's real.
But I've been waiting for so long that I'm scared to believe!

I've been waiting so long, that I can't believe it'll happen for real and it's overwhelming!
All those times watching a Disney movie or TV show, seeing the castle image and hoping I'd go soon.
All those times seeing a WDW ad on TV or in the paper, and wanting to go so badly.
All those times hearing of someone, friend or family member, going to WDW or talking about memories of such a trip, and being so jealous because I've been wanting to go so much for so long! So many times, hearing a friend or family member talking of going to WDW and hoping I'd get invited to tag along!!!
But it never happened. I never got to go.
All those times hoping for nothing, all those dreams that didn't came true, it's like a huge snowball exploding at once! It's simply too much!

I cracked once when I watched a documentary on WDW and told myself "I'm really going! Soon, I'll be there". Never should've done that!

I still didn't watch the planning DVD I ordered... First because I wanted to watch it with Mama, and she doesn't want to watch it, because she doesn't want to see the sights, attractions, etc. before getting there. Even though she has been to MK before, it's been about 30 years, so it's almost like she's never been, and she want to have a fresh, new look and be surprised, impressed and not know what to expect. I totally understand, because that's why I skip the pictures in TRs... Maybe I should do the same... after all it's not like I need that thing to plan our trip!
But another reason I'm not watching it is I'm scared of losing it again...


I'm also starting to panic.
So much to do and less and less time to do it all!
And thus I'm starting to lose my efficacy : I run around in circles not knowing where to start, what to do!
-Organize information?
-Make lists?
-Create DISigns (mousekeeping envelopes, CM thank you cards, shirts, name tags, etc.)?
-Shop?
-Organize my iPods music?
-Do more research?
-Do something else that I'm forgetting???

I'm losing my mind!!!

But I know one thing for sure, this trip really is my own little "make-a-wish" trip.
All this makes me forget about my health and my dad.
And I'm pretty sure I'll have a magical trip and I'll forget about those things while at WDW too.
And when I'll come back, I'll have months of TR-writing, pictures posting and scrapbooking to continue living the magic and not thinking... And lots of good, happy, memories to escape my &%/#@ life...
Plus, I'll then be planning my next trip! (if it's not our next WDW trip I'll be planning, I have a scoop for you : I'll be planning a trip to France, mostly Paris! It's my second dream destination and I really hope I could do it in the next 10 years -I know, it's a long way ahead, but with the little money I have, I don't have a choice. By planning it, I'll know what it'll take... I also really want the 2nd WDW trip, so I don't know if France would be before or after. Sadly, I guess it should be after... so in 5-10 years. But it's never too early to plan a dream trip!).

I'm going to continue reading PTRs and dreaming... I'm too tired tonight to organize or plan anyways!

 

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

Swwake, on her PTR, made me think about making a "not to be missed" (NTBM) list. Which is a list of attractions, restaurants or other things you absolutely want to do on the trip. Things you'd feel the trip is almost ruined if you don't get to do them.
I had heard about that before, of course... but since we'll be in the World for 14 days and it's my first time ever, our plan is : do absolutely everything!
I want to try even what's deemed boring, since I want to see for myself, and I'll do the thrill rides alone, since Mama has motion sickness.
I don't want to miss a thing, like the Aerosmith song goes!
It's the same reason we're not doing a precise touring plan. Not only because we don't want a detailed plan (since we hate plans on vacations and want to go as we feel), but because it's not about doing only specific attractions and the thrill rides as many times as possible in a short period of time... It's about doing each available attraction at least once!
I can't believe that in 14 days it could be possible not to have time to do everything at least once!

But I guess it could be fun to make a list of each of our NTBM (mine and Mama's) just for the fun of checking them off at the end of each day... To get the feeling we did things we had so much wanted to do, for so long!
That would be a to-do list as I like them!!!

And to, maybe, be sure of doing those first, just in case... not leaving them last, you know, and having to leave with a NTBM not "checked off".
But no, it's not logical... We're only 2... We know what we absolutely want to do... So how could we forget to do a NTBM??? Since we won't have a touring plan, we'll most likely tour the parks in a way as to make sure we see everything... so we'll be sure that, if we have a NTBM, we'll do it when we pass it!
But of course, having a list to check off the NTBM as they're done, if ever there's a reason that make us unable to do a NTBM as we pass it (too long line, broke down, etc.), we will have a reminder to do it later, before going home.

I think that'll be more the reason than anything. Not because we won't remember what we want to do or won't be able to decide what to do (like when there are too many members in the travel party and not enough travel time), but in case something umpredictable happens, and because there is so much we'll be thinking about...

But really, there is nothing I don't want to do . Even some things that don't appeal too much to me on paper, I want to be able to make sure it's no fun! I want to be able to tell I've done all WDW. I mean, it's impossible I know, but attraction-wise at least; and I won't be disappointed if, because of my health, I can't do it.
But I mean I want do all attractions and shows and we planned on seeing all parades and nightime entertainment too.

I think if we don't oversleep, don't overdo it either, nap (or at least relax) in the afternoon (or sleep later some mornings, or do some early evenings), and don't ride the same attractions multiple times, we could do it . Of course, we will ride attractions multiple times if we have the time, at the end of the trip. That's the whole plan : if we were able to see all we wanted to see, we'll just go and see/ride again what we loved the most!


Today I finished my attraction info spreadsheet. So now I have all the attraction info regarding duration, seating, wheelchair entrances, overstimulation factor, etc. all in one place. Organized by park and by land. I also added the info for the waterparks.

The waterpark attraction info I have makes me doubt my choice for Typhoon lagoon.
Mama says she doesn't do slides.
I haven't done any for at least 10 years, maybe 15 (20?). So I really don't know if I do them either. I'll see once I'm there if I feel like it.

The thing is, if I want to do slides, it's clear Blizzard beach is better, since there is the chairlift. Not all slides are w/c accessible, but most are. And as with TL, there are the wave pool and the creek (we mostly go do the waterpark to relax in said creek).
In TL, except the crushnGusher, no slides are w/c accessible. And the wave pool has big mean surf waves most of the time (which is not for us). But it has the shark reef, which I think I could want to do (no, I'm really not sure about anything for the waterparks!) I'm pretty sure I could snorkel, but since I have some breathing trouble now, I heard it may be a problem.
BUT. I also heard BB was mostly a place for teenagers, with thrill seekers... It's not the atmosphere we're looking for! Maybe little kids running around isn't much relaxing, but I've learned that parent-less teens can be much worst...
And I've heard TL had a more beautiful, lush, landscape... and I'm a photo girl.
Now, add to that we'll only be spending half a day there (maybe even less),
Oh yeah, and am I right or is TL the closest to POFQ?

So... I really don't know.

I decided to start another info spreadsheet : for restaurants.
Once again, the ones in both my Passporters (regular and OpenMouse) have lots of info, too much in fact, and it wouldn't be easy to find what we need fast on site. So I'm using that info (and other I can find) and putting it in my own, with just what's relevant to me. Like if it's a CS or TS, the meals the restaurant is serving (breakfast, lunch, dinner), the approximate price of a meal, the kind of food, if an ADR is necessary, if it's a character dinner, wheelchair comments, if it takes DDE (or at least gives AP discount), etc. It takes almost as much space as the original PP pages (maybe even more), but I organize the info differently, easier to spot for me. And since it's only what's relevant to me, I don't have to scan the text to find what's underlined... But I'll still read my Passporter infos, as for the attraction, for the park we're heading, the evening before we go and the week before we leave, to have it fresh in mind (but I couldn't remember it all!)
I already did all MK.

As for the attractions info, I'm not even sure I'll use it, but it'll be there so if we need it, I'll be happy to have it handy. It could be very useful to have that and be able to check before choosing a restaurant which one serves what kind of food and has the lowest noise level, or where is the accessible cash register.


Just a thought : The email I received yesterday from Disney as a confirmation of our tickets order and saying they had shipped, and we should received them Monday... It said the shipping was with Fedex!
I don't quite get it, since 1) We only paid 3$ for USA standard shipping (unless, of course, that's what I was told and it's not what was billed...) and 2) I specifically asked the CM about the shipping method and she told me it would be USPS. And I told her I was happy about that because I had had bad experiences with UPS... And she repeated that it was USPS... (sadly, I didn't specify that the bad experience was with all companies except USPS... DHL and Fedex are almost as worst as UPS... But still, she confirmed it was USPS!).

I hope that 1) Mama won't be billed more than those 3$
2) We won't have to pay a hefty customs service hidden-inflated fee to Fedex...

I'll leave you for today, the snowstorm is really bad and the electricity already cut many times (for just a second or 2 at a time)... but it could soon quit for good... I don't want to have an on-going message if it happens!

 

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

Mama doesn't get it!
She can make me so mad!
But thinking about it, as the bachelor in psychology that I am, I realize it's mostly a huge disappointment than truly being mad. Which isn't really better...

She's happy, really happy to go to WDW.
She sometimes gets excited about going (I mean... showing it). I think her deeply rooted negative side makes her incapable or scared to be too excited. (like I'm a little scared to believe it's really happening, since I've dreamed about this for so long without it never happening!).
But more than that, she doesn't want to do anything to build up the excitement, to turn the trip into something more, to put more fun in the planning, etc.

She doesn't want to have anything to do with decorating our room at WDW, she doesn't want to be part of planning, even with fun things that would be fun to share (not boring planning stuff), she doesn't care about WDW dining and keeps saying we're not going to Disney to eat (she doesn't understand those places are there anyway and can only add to the experience and can come into play to make our trip that much more wonderful! That, even if we chose places according to budget and time, it's important to choose places we'll like experience-theme-food wise!)

She doesn't want to add to the experience in any way!

For exemple : she doesn't want to watch Disney movies prior to the trip. Sometimes she'll do it to please me, but I almost have to force her each time, even though she likes those movies!
She doesn't get that once we're there, it could be fun to have the "Disney knowledge" fresh in mind... It's almost like she doesn't realize that it's a Disney-themed park!
I guess she simply doesn't care not to understand the "insides" or know the whole stories in the attractions. She told me "you don't need to know the stories to have fun in the attractions". And I'm sure it's true, or people wouldn't go there as much! But I'm also sure it's more fun if you do!!!
Plus, When you watch a Disney movie prior to the trip, you get excited just seeing the castle and Tink at the beginning and thinking you'll be there soon and see the particular character in the movie! But altough she gets excited in the castle/Tink part too, she doesn't get the rest. Or she forgets immediatly after the movie's over. Because she doesn't want to watch another and I have to force her the next time (or just don't watch it with her).
I had conviced her to watch a Disney animated movie each week until the trip in the fall, with all the movies I have, we wouldn't have enough time... but I figured if we watched a little more during the holidays or in the months before the trip (with Mama not working anymore), we would be able to do it... Well, we watched about 3-4 movies in the fall and stopped! Even though she was only working part-time then, she always said she didn't have the time ... when a Disney movie doesn't even last 2 hours! But she had time to watch TV every night and often watched other kinds of movies... Which means it was a chore to her!

Another example : she doesn't want personalized tank tops, well at least not too much, even though she doesn't hate the idea. She just isn't "in those kind of things". (the orst for me is, she can't even explain it! Can't explain why she doesn't want personnalixed shirts, why she doesn't want to watch the movies, etc)

She doesn't think I'm crazy (well, almost sometimes, it depends on the project), but she simply doesn't care and most of the time, doesn't understand and mostly, doesn't want to participate in any way.

The latest : she doesn't want to sit with me and do a "not to be missed" list, or NTBM.
She says there are only 3 things she absolutely wants to do : Haunted Mansion, POTC and IASW. So she could never forget about those. And of course she couldn't. As I said yesterday, I couldn't forget about my NTBM either, and that's not really the point of a NTBM list for us.
The 1st point was to make sure we didn't forget a NTBM in case something prevented us to do it when we were supposed to do it and would forget to go do it again in the WDW whirlind... The 2nd point was to have the fun of checking items off the list.
First, she said she really didn't care checking items off a list, that this was "my thing"... with kind of a contempt smile... I don't know how to explain it. Like a look/smile you could have saying to a baby "no, I don't feel like playing in the mud, but you go have fun". And of course, she didn't need a list since she only has 3 items!
She told me she didn't know what the other attractions were, since they didn't exist when she was there about 30 years ago, and the others she either didn't remember or didn't care to do too much (she remember them as boring, so if she didn't care doing them, it certainly wouldn't be in her NTBM would she do one!).

But that's exactly the thing!!!
I had in mind sitting down with the list of attractions that exist for each park (and of shows, nightime entertainment and eventually restaurants) and making our list together, and I could tell her what was now in the parks, and she could get excited about what was there now and we could get excited over what we wanted to try together!!!
But no. She doesn't want to get excited over the trip. She doesn't want to do fun trip planning things together.
She just want to get there and have fun there, nothing until then.

Well... at least she does want to go there... and she's paying for most of it. Hadn't it been this way, I wouldn't be going at all...

So I lost it. I lost my nerves and I told her I forgot how she never wanted to do anything for the trip, never wanted to get excited about the trip and such, and I should stop trying to get her involved.

And it's true. I should just try to get it in my head that she doesn't care and that it'll only make me mad (and make her sad) and ruin my mood if I try to get her excited beforehand for this trip.
Oh, I can tell her about what I do and inform her on things... But I should really stop asking her to watch movies with me (well, maybe offer her to watch with me, but not ASK her to and wait for her to do it like I was, most of the time), stop asking her about doing things together, and such. I'll make the personnalized tops without asking her (except for some details, since I wouldn't want her not to wear them because she hates them)...

But this saddens me and I really think we could have so much more fun if she only would try to go with it!!!

 

[michellem1118]

I'm sorry you're so frustrated with the planning, but just think... a bit more than a month from now, you'll be on your way to WDW for your dream trip! Try not to let these little frustrations spoil it for you before you get there.

On another note, I'd like to ask you a few questions about your CFS (NDS?) if you don't mind. I have a very close friend who's been having some strange neurological symptoms for a month or so, with no diagnosis. If you're willing to talk about it, please PM me.

 

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

Hey, Michellem1118. I've PMd you to talk about your friend, but I've not properly welcomed you to the PTR, so


OK... First things first : We're now officially Annual Passholders!
Well, we've only got vouchers, but since we paid the APs and I can get on the AP website, I consider myself a passholder!!!
Which means : YAY!!!

Yep, I received a visit from the Fedex guy this afternoon. He said : some mail from WDW?. I answered "yes.... Yes! Yes!!!" And started to hop around a little. The guy asked if we were going soon, and if we were going to Florida or California. I also told him it was my first time. He told me it was going to be a wonderful trip and that even the big kids were to be like little kids. I told him that was exactly the point!

Having those tix in hand made it so much more real! Me and Mama opened the package together and I read the letter accompanying the tix aloud (it was for the P&PP).
Then I almost ran to the computer to log in the AP website to check out what the news were... And I couldn't!!!
What the heck was supposed to be the "ID #" on that voucher card??? There were almost no numbers at all!
The website is OK, I mean it was clear, there was an image of 3 cards, one of an AP, 2 of vouchers and one was like mine, but my numbers weren't accepted!
One part in particular wasn't clear. Let's see the details (and it could help someone else) :
On the back of the voucher, you first have an alphanumeric code of 4 digits, which don't need (that's clearly indicated on the AP website).
Then you have the date, which you need to put on the website. For today, it would be 03/10/08.
Then, you have a 3 letter code, and you chose yours from a drop-down menu on the website. Following is a 3 digits number that you enter on the website too.
It's all very clear up to the next part.
You then have another serie of digits to enter. You get another square to fill and it says you need to enter the ID# (or something like that, sorry for my bad memory). And looking at the voucher's back, it seems there's only one number left. On the website, it says the number is "1 to 5 digits long". On my voucher, there was something looking like this : "25 32".
I tried every combination I could think of : "2532" "25032" "25 32"... It didn't work! I then thought the problem came from me using Safari. But I had no more luck on Explorer...
Once again, the DIS came to my rescue. (but I must admit, it took some patience as I needed to dig deep to find the info!). Turns out you need to put on only the last 2 digits! (in the exemple, it would be "32").
Would it be so hard to put that info somewhere???
So I did that, and bam! it worked! whew!


I found the DDE application/ordering form and as it stated there was a long waiting time on the phone and suggested faxing instead, I jumped on the occasion. After all, it's a long distance call and I hate being on hold.
So I filled up the form and faxed it. It took many tries but I finally got through.
And I paid for it (meaning : not Mama, me, myself and I). One more thing I was able to pay for the trip! It's not much, but it's something...
Just hope these things I'm trying so hard to pay now won't mean I'll have to ask her to lend me money once we're there!!!


As for paying... I got to thinking... we've got the AP... we got AP discount for the moderate resort... but we contemplated renting DVC points at some point, and it would've been for the AKL w/savannah view...
So I wondered, what if we could get a good enough discount with the AP and we could go to the AKL?!
I asked Mama about it and the first answer was : she doesn't care about AKL. Altough, thinking about it, the prospect of watching animals while taking your morning coffee sounds like "something pretty extraordinary". But maybe not worth 1000$ more...
But then, I told her about something else... The fact that, all along the planning and researching I did, I kept reading about how, for a limited mobility or stamina person like I am, a monorail resort is the best choice, because if you're in MK or Epcot, you can just hop in the monorail and you're in your room in a matter of minutes.
I'm stopping right here to tell you : yes, I know how much AKL is contradictory to that. My love of animals is not fitting at all with the practical side of mobility and stamina issues. Moving on.

She asked me why I hadn't told her more about that. Well, it's pretty simple : because of the price tag! I have stumbled upon this information many times and I'm telling her, but I didn't research about it because it seemed like an option we couldn't afford. So why even bother?!

Since Mama is a worried person and has been worried of me not feeling well and needing to go back quick to our resort, it's something that hit home quite a bit.
Plus, when I told her what were the 3 monorail resorts, and that the Contemporary was one of them... it stroke a chord (since her first visit to WDW more than 30 years ago, that resort is iconic to her, because she remembers going through it on the monorail. It's kind of her dream resort).

Frankly, none of the monorail resorts appeal to me much. Even AKL doesn't appeal to me except for the perspective of seeing the animals. I'm not a fan of hawaïan nor african architecture. What I saw from the Contemporary didn't thrill me at all, and I think we would feel out of place at the GF (not rich enough , you know the feeling?).
But if we could afford it and if it could mean less trouble, more time in the parks and a faster ride "home" when I'm not feeling good... Then the important part isn't the look and feel of the place as much as that.

I was able to get the quote for AKL, and it would be 800$ more than what we're paying right now... which is "only" about 300$ more than the original POFQ price...
Mama seemed to be on the edge and almost willing to pay that... but not really for AKL... I think if that price tag would be for the Contemporary, she'd go for it. As a longtime dream of hers, a practical thing and such...
But still, ouch, we would go sooo over budget! (I know, it's not my problem, and our budget wasn't set in stone). I'll have to talk to Rhonda tomorrow (well, talk is a big word. email). In fact, I had asked her about those 4 resorts, and only got the answer for AKL, does this mean the only AP discount available was for AKL, or was it because I had told her I liked animals so much? Maybe monorail resorts never get AP discounts?

Next package should be the dress... (Belle costume). I promise to take a picture and post it!

I didn't accomplish a lot today... I woke up early enough (I'm getting good at going to bed aroung midnight and getting up around nine. I'm even starting waking up without the alarm!), but I feel like I didn't "start"... Mama and I watched a movie (non-Disney, of course) in the afternoon and when I got in the studio;
Yeah, "pause" I'll explain that, don't think I did yet : I have a big room adjoining to the house that we remodeled almost a year ago to make it my own place, so I would have some intimacy and feel a little more at home... and it now looks like a big studio or loft. I have everything there except my bed. Well, not everything : a table and chairs, fridge, sofa and lay-z-boy, audio-video system, what I call my "creative corner" (which is a table, light and storage for all crafts and scrapbooking stuff), and office space. It looks like a one-room appartment...or studio! Which isn't too surprising, since most of what's in there comes from my apartment... which I had to leave after I got sick... but then you look around more closely and you wonder where is the bed, bathroom and where I put the clothes!

So when I finally got in the studio... I coudn't do a lot. I had just taken my shower, which, sorry if it offends you, but I can't do daily since it exhaust me too much (well, just be reminded I don't do much anyway and I do take a shower if I do enough to get dirty or sweaty!), so I was not feeling well and couldn't concentrate. Plus, I had my new contact lenses on and somedays I have trouble looking at the computer screen with those (can't wait to see the optometrist with those... wednesday! ).
So after the AP mess and DDE form thing, I tried adding to my restaurants info spreadsheet, but to no avail.
I went to check for the first time the itinerary Rhonda (DU) did for me (based on mine!), and it was great! I loved the little tips she added. Some of the info was out of date (like in some places, it says Stars & Motor Cars parade for HS), but I learned some of the info I had wasn't complete! (is it ever?!)
So I completed my attraction info spreadsheet (for exemple, I didn't know the Haunted Mansion was a FP attraction! It wasn't mentioned in either of my PassPorters!?). And I had tips like what FP attractions to prioritize (in case it's needed, of course. I'm not sure we'll need to do that, since it won't be peak season and we'll be there 14 days).

After that, I wasn't able to concentrate on the screen anymore.
We had dinner early and it was it. I wanted to continue, but no way. I went straight for my bed and the laptop (with my glasses!). Oh yeah, there's a difference! Being in a chair, sitting straigh and concentrating on a spreadsheet, organizing information, etc. VS sitting in bed in your pajamas with the legs leveled (not having the feet on the ground mean the blood don't pool down, which in my situation makes a huge difference since I'm living with a quarter less blood than my body needs) and typing silly comments or reading others PTRs!!! The latter is not only less demanding on my body, but is much easier concentration-wise!

I hate those kind of days.
And worst, I know I won't be able to do more tomorrow!
I have my 2nd injection in my left knee...
We probably won't get home until mid-afternoon...
And I'll probably be too exhausted about the outing to do anything after we get back. Maybe post here, but not anything planning-wise. I think I should really get some of my planning stuff on a USB key so I could work on it on the laptop when I don't feel good... Or maybe use a .Mac account... I should check that out more carefully... I think it could let me work on anything I have on my computer that I check "allowed" or something like that... or anything that I put online on that account... Even if my laptop isn't a Mac. It would be even better than a USB key! And maybe it would be useful in WDW, maybe I could send my pix directly to my computer! I'm worried my laptop memory won't be enough (it's not new and I take pictures in RAW format)...
Anyways, that's the bug.

Next up (if I have the courage to post again tonight) : the kitty tears.

 

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

Okay,
As you know, one member of the family who won't make this trip is my dear kitty cat : Colombine. I don't think I introduced her properly.
(kô-lon-been) is a commedia dell'arte character. In theater "codes", she has a white collar to her dress.
And when she was a baby, my cat had kind of a white collar in her neck, and that's how we found her name! (now those lines are not as much defined)

I love animals, I already told you. I always loved cats and dogs, and I always had a cat. Always. Often more than one. Presently we only have Colombine because our old Mephisto died a couple of months ago and my parents decided not to get another. Like they decided they don't want to get a dog.
Knowing that, no one could understand how they could live in a house with 2 dogs, 2 cats and kittens from one of those cats not so long ago! And having been brought up in that, I have lots of trouble not being able to have as much animals around me. Especially being ill and animals being so much help in hard times, so therapeutic! Even though sometimes I wonder if I'm not better off with just Colombine since I love her so much and having another animal would mean I could't be devoted just to her... I know it's like kids, you always have time, energy and love for another!... I would be happy with many dogs, many cats, rabbits, fishes, ferrets... and then some! I'd like to be a little SPCA all to myself. Or be a foster home for guide dogs and assistance monkeys before they can be fully trained... And we have the space here to do this, plus I'm always home. In fact, right now, we all are!.

Small pause here... Mama had promised me I could get a beagle, my dream dog... In fact, dream dog mostly because after analysing dogs info, it appears it's the best dog for us, not because "ooh, it's a cute dog" thing.
She had said I could have it after the trip, since it wouldn't be OK to leave my dad with the dog. It was fair and logical. And since I wanted to wait for spring/summer to get the puppy anyways, the timing was great. Last time I talked about it, she bucked. I was furious and asked what the bug was. Turns out, she made a "fake promise". She had told me all this just to kind of get rid of me, because she didn't want to talk about it, to push the deadline later, kind of. You don't do that!!! You don't make a promise! You say "I don't want to talk about it now, we'll talk about it later", or you just say "NO"! And it's not like I've been harassing her or something. I spoke to her about it as long as I though there was a chance... A word here and there, a comment like "ooh, it's a beagle on TV!"... Not much, really. You can't imagine how much I was frustrated and disapointed.

Now, that was a couple of months ago, before the holidays.
Then a couple of weeks ago, my dad saw a dog on TV (pretty beagle-like) and said it would be a dog he'd like to get. I jumped on that and said it was exactly like the one I wanted too.
The exact same scenario happened again, a couple of days later. That time, I said "I'd like to have it when we come back from WDW". Now my dad kind of made a startled face and said "what? this year, woh! I said it was a dog I'd like to have... someday, it could be in 10 years!"... But he didn't sound or look too serious or too hard on his positions... I almost wondered if he was jocking at me and would have accepted had we seriously discussed the matter.
I also noticed my dad made a lot of comments on cute dogs these last weeks (on TV, in the papers). So I don't know. Maybe I have a chance... Maybe he's slowly changing his mind. I should really talk to Mama about it, maybe she knows something. But if she doesn't and she's not on my side... I'm doomed.
The trouble is 1) he can change his mind 25 times and we can never know what he's really thinking (did I say he was unpredictable?! He's also inconsequent).
2) The trick is I need to make it look like it's his idea, or use reverse psychology. He has such an opposing personality that if I say something like "I know that you want a dog but I really don't think it's a good idea", he'll go out and get one (problem is, it won't be the one I want!)
3) I really don't want the same thing than 3 years ago happenning... The neighbor's daughter wanted to give her dog away, and it was a dog just like my dad "would like some day"... (Fraser's dog!)
Except this dog wasn't a puppy, he was at least 2y.o., had never been trained and wasn't the kind of dog for us, at all.
And except he didn't consult with anyone in the house before getting it. He simply announced one day that, the next afternoon, we would had a dog!
That made Mama very unhappy, since she didn't want a grown, untrained dog (and who would need to clean up the mess if there was?).
But I was the most furious. Because for almost 2 years, my dad had refused me a dog! But now he saw one he wanted, he got one...
Let's just say the dog didn't last. It's hard to train an adult dog, especially with my dad in the house (meaning an unpredictable character, incapable to give twice the same orders...)
Anyways.
End of the "pause".

Colombine is the most special cat I've had in my life.
There are many factors to that.
Since I'm not working and can't do much, I spend almost all my time with her. For comparison, a stay-at-home-mom, even though she's at home, she's working! She has a lot to do, runs around the house, etc. A cat probably wouldn't be able to follow most of the time! When I got Colombine, she was a tiny baby... and she would curl up on my lap or on my shoulders be it I watched TV, read a book or worked on the computer. I'm never able to do anything that involves a lot of moving around, so she always can sit with me! She now has her own little blanket besides the computer and she curls up there when I work. And at night, she sleeps with me.

Another thing that makes her dear to many and makes it very hard not to humanize her, is she "talks". She warbles, coos, squeaks, etc. I learned she has siamese blood -She's a Thai tabby point- (even though she looks nothing like the usual siamese image we all have in mind, she looks like my avatar. But I learned that there was a subtype of siamese looking exactly like that! ) And siamese "talk" a lot!
She answers when I ask her questions, for example... We can have "conversations" (of course I can say whatever I want, I still don't understand "cat talk").
On top of it, it's like a dog... she follows me everywhere. Really! If I tell her we're going to bed, she'll go and wait at the bottom of the stairs, but if I don't tell her anything and get in the stairs, she'll run after me. If she's with Mama in her bedroom and I go in mine, she'll run like crazy to get to me (she's scared I'll close the door and she won't be able to get in...). In fact, I can softly call her when I'm in my bedroom, upstairs, and she'll come even if she's in the cellar!

In fact, she's dependant. I can't go to te bathroom without her going crazy on the other side, crying! It's become like a running gag. Mama and dad are like "what kitty? Where's mommy?"... (and of course she'll answer them between 2 cries! I'm telling you! I should record and put it somewhere and provide you a link... It's like
-Cat : Meow! Come out!
-Parents :What kitty, where is mommy?
-Cat : Meow?I don't know?... Meow! Come out!

I even sleep with her in my arms, like a stuffed animal! (honestly, it's the main reason why I want a tripod and a remote-control for my camera, so I could take a picture of that! Colombine is a nervous cat, so someone else could never take that kind of picture, as soon as she hears a noise, she'll leave to check it out!).


All that to explain that this cat is almost like a person to me. I know, many say their animals are like their children or babies. And I must admit, when I hear people talking to their babies, it reminds me of how I talk to my cat. And she acts a lot like a baby (add the mischievous attitude, the troubles, the educating, the playing, the cuddling, the cuteness, the not-understandable talking and remove the furr...). But I know a cat could never be the equivalent of a baby. As much as you can love an animal, I don't think it could ever amount to the love you can have for a human being. Maybe a monkey could get very near, especially since they live so long and are so close to being human...
But I still love that cat a lot.

She makes me laugh at least once a day, she gives me lots of affection and she often lets me forget about the everyday trouble.
She has been my zootherapy for the last 2 years and she's really precious. She's truly the best cat I've ever had, in many ways, and I think it was destiny that put us together. I won't tell the whole story here, but let's just say I thought a grey striped cat would be neat (but it wasn't sine qua non), and I wanted a male cat. And when I got her she was a little sick and I had been advised not to get her because I had just lost my cat to sickness and "when you start fresh with a new baby cat, you should get one that's healthy". But I decided to give a cute and friendly female, grey striped, sick kitty a second chance in life, and wow did I make a good choice! She's now healthy and a wonderful cat.

But what about those kitty tears?
Well, I told you she's dependant didn't you?
When we went to Quebec city for a whole week last fall, it was the first time I left for so long in her short life. Before that I don't think I ever had left for more than day (morning to evening). And it always is obvious she misses me when I leave for the day!
So when I came back from Quebec, she made me pay for it.
It took me a couple hours to be able to touch her, almost a day before she would purr and she didn't talk again for 2 days.
My dad says she almost spent the whole week in the cellar (we don't have a basement). At least she ate OK.
I myself didn't find it too easy either. I'm used to have my furry, purring, talking ball near me at all times. Something warm, comforting, that I can pet and to which I can talk (better yet : it answers!).
After a couple hours outside the home, I find myself looking for her. A couple hours more and I miss petting her. Come night and I have trouble sleeping because she's not sleeping on my feet or in my arm... In Quebec, I realized I had symptoms of a "phantom member", like those people with amputation who still feel the missing body part... I woke up in the night feeling like a cat had just jumped in my bed or was snuggling to my leg... So I found the trick : I put a pillow on the bed, approximatly where the cat used to sleep...
But after a week, I was missing Colombine so much that telling myself "I'm going to see my cat!!!" compensated well enough for the sadness of ending the trip!

So... now imagine that times 3!
The cat that was so miserable for 1 week... going through 3 weeks of withdrawal!
I'm scared she won't forgive me this time! How long will it take before I'll be able to touch her this time?

And how will I be able to live without my kitty so long?

...I'm wondering if I won't start collecting her hair after I brush her and pasting them on her picture, so I could pet that when I'm away...

So now I often talk to her when she comes sitting on my tummy or snuggling in my neck... I look at her in the eyes and explain to her that I'll be gone for a long time, that I've been waiting for a long time for this trip and I can't miss this... That I'll come back and she'll be OK with dad... I tell her that I'd love to take her along, but she'd be in a cage and I couldn't see her much each day anyway... to remember how she hates the drives to the vet, which are only 5 minutes (she cries all the way, it's heartbreaking!), and then to imagine : the drive will be 3 days long!

And it makes me cry!!!!!! There are the tears I was talking about...
(oh, maybe the kitty will cry inside when I'll be gone... hope not. Just thinking about that makes me want to cry some more!!!)

It's the only part of the trip I'm not looking for... I'll miss my kitty sooooo much!!!!!
I know, I know... I'll be super excited on the drive there, and there'll be so much to see/do once there, and then I'll be full of memories on the drive back (and it'll be the drive back!), but I'm sure I'll still miss her a lot!!!
And she won't have all those things to make it easier... She'll be here all alone, well, with dad, in the same old cellar and the empty studio... Of course, maybe it won't be worst than Quebec city, since I think cats don't feel time... so maybe she'll feel like it's one week! Let's just hope so.

I'm sure you all find me so stupid, I won't miss my friends or my dad the most, but my cat. But like I said... my cat doesn't judge me, my cat is always there and loves me unconditionally.
Just think about it : when you wear a watch all the time and you need to have it fixed and leave it at the jewelers for a couple of days, you miss it, don't you? Not miss it like emotionnaly, but because it's something you're used to seeing, feeling there. Well it's like that for my cat, on top of the emotional part!

...I still can't wait for the trip! And I still won't want it to end sooner!
And Colombine says prrr!

 

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

Hi.
Had written all my post.
Was proofreading it.
Don't know what happened. Hit the backspace button to remove a smilie that got in the wrong place. The text wasn't all selected.
But all got erased. Like I hit the "back" button on the browser instead, since it got me right to the thread... All the post had disappeared.

Too bummedand too tired.

...Gotta love those computers...

Will write again tomorrow.

Bye!

 

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

Know what the worst part is?
I don't even remember what I had been writing about in that previous post that got erased! Should have taken a note or two...
It means that 1) A PTR is really to vent... since after all as the old saying goes : if you don't remember something it means it wasn't all that important!
But it also means that 2) My memory is like a cheese full of holes... especially when I'm very tired.
I guess it also means a little that 3) it frustrated me so much that I did my best to forget all about it!

I'll start with the fresh stuff, maybe the "old" will come back!

Well wouldn't you know. I took the laptop down to my studio room, since I wasn't comfortable in my bed for long periods of time (and since I like the laptop better to DIS, I spent more and more time in bed on the laptop). But then I realized I have little to no wireless connection in there (and forget about using my wired connection). It was manageable, but no party. But then, after working on the laptop in my LayZBoy for a couple hours(which was the plan : I'm not well enough to stay on the Mac, in an office chair, so the LayZBoy lets me elevate my legs), I realized I'm no more comfortable than in my bed! I have less "workspace", less ways to move and instead of a bach ache, my legs hurt and I'm really uncomfortable!
So I'm back in bed...
But there's a good news : I ordered a laptop platform made to let you work with your laptop on your knees. Now I'm using a tray with small foldable legs that you use to eat breakfast in bed... The laptop doesn't quite fit in it and I hurt my arms when I type, because they rub on the side... But I have to use it or the laptop overheats... Since I'm using the laptop way more now, I decided to "indulge" and pay the 35$ to get it. (Mama couldn't believe I "splurged" and bought it right away instead of waiting after the trip... She doesn't realize I've been wanting/needing this thing for years and that it'll be useful on the trip!)

I almost completed the driving itinerary yesterday. I don't have it near me, but I can tell you it's mostly the 401, I-81 and I-95, with a (very) short stop in Arlington to visit the cemetary (I have been in a school trip and found it so impressive, calm and beautiful that I want to show it to Mama, we'll eat there and combine the visit with our scheduled break so it won't hold us back... It won't be a "real" visit, just a quick peek, but at least it'll give Mama an idea of the place. Plus, we should get to see the cherry trees in bloom! It's my best memory of Washington DC!).

I don't remember if I had told you this, but we're splitting the drive (about 24 hours total) between 3 days. We'll be leaving around 9h30 each morning (+/- one hour) and stop around 8pm the first 2 nights (that time could be way different depending on many factors : construction, the time we take to eat and break, and if we have any trouble!).
We should arrive in Disney, on the 3rd night, around 6pm.
On each driving day, we plan to take around 1hr for lunch and dinner each (not meaning "to figure when we'll get to the motel, we plan that much time", but we want to take that long a meal break to relax, since we don't want to exhaust ourselves).
I should be doing all the driving. I love driving. Really.
On a roadtrip I did with my bestfriend in summer 2003 (Northeast America - attraction theme parks and some other touristy things, like Niagara falls, RocknRoll hall of fame and Motown), I drove the whole 3333km (about 1500miles) spread on 3 weeks (we drove almost every day, at least a couple hours, some days doing just that for 10 hours).

But I was healthy then. I'm ill now. If I'm too tired, I don't have enough concentration to drive. So Mama will take the wheel if needed, even though I whish it doesn't happen.
(Aaahh, driving with good music playing... Of course it's not as fun when you're not alone, but still... Yep, I'm a solo driver. I don't care not driving alone, it's just you can play your music as you like and the feeling's not the same when you're alone. ...I'm now listening to "Born to be alive" and it would just be a perfect driving track! )

It's exactly why we'll be taking breaks of about 20 min. each 2-3 hours; even if we don't feel like it. No "oh, why not keep on going just a little more, it's going well". Because my trouble is I feel OK until it's too late. So it's to prevent overexertion. Just to get out of the car, walk around a little, let the blood circulate a little, help the knees (who hurt a lot when bent for too long) and get the mind off the road, so I can concentrate better afterwards.
I'm pretty sure Mama will be pretty happy if there's an opportunity to potty too!

Both our motels are reserved on the way down : a Comfort Inn for the 1st night (in Frederick, MD, if I'm right), and then a HoJo (I think it's in Florence, SC). The rates were surprisingly low! I couldn't believe it. Last time I checked those kind of motel rates they were way higher than that! I don't know if it's either the place or the time of year, but we won't complain! (both less than 100$).

I had more trouble to figure the drive back... See, I had forgotten that we'll leave later because we have breakfast at Chef Mickey's just before we leave. We decided it would be a great way to leave with the right mood... (and to skip lunch! OK, that didn't factor at all in the decision, it just hit me when I made the itinerary).
So I had made the whole itinerary (with meals and motels stops) before I noticed my mistake. Which meant we either kept the stops I had included, but would arrive to each of them about 2 hours later, or I had to change them all.

Even though I have a good program (Microsoft Streets & Trips 2008), It's not very good for that kind of stuff. You know at what time you leave and at what time you make a turn, but if you want to add a stop to a restaurant, unless it's just after a turn in the itinerary, you have no way of knowing exactly at what time it will be.
For example, I knew my 1st motel stop (1st night) should be around pm. I had drive indications a little before 8pm and a little later than that.
The only way to find a motel where to stop around 8pm was to get to what corresponded to that 1st itinerary indication (a little before 8pm) on the map, and look along the map for a motel, like I was driving along the road and looking for itl!
Problem is, I didn't found any until much further (later), and it wasn't one we like as much as a HoJo, which is the one I had scheduled at 10pm by mistake...

But Mama really doesn't like the possibility of arriving that late, even though, leaving late, it doesn't make it a long day (she just doesn't like the possibility of having to drive at night, since she has problems seeing -thus driving- at night), and even though it's possible we arrive earlier than that.
So I'll do that search all over again, in case I missed something the first time. And I'll also use the web and GPS to search differently, lookng for a motel in that area...

Another thing about the drive : In my 2003 roadtrip, I discovered some wonderful restaurants that don't exist in Quebec (or in Canada). Others I've only seen TV ads and really want to have a taste.
So I'm trying to schedule our meals where those restaurants are. (yeah, say it, you think I'm nuts, I know! That's what Mama thinks anyways!).
I'm not going overboard. I mean : I'm not searching for the restaurants first, and then planning the route. It's just, when the time of the meal comes on the itinerary, I look for the restaurants on the map and if there's one of the restaurants in my "must do" list near, I put it on the itinerary. (and when I say near, I mean near. Mama panicks at the tought of leaving the highway, even if I'm driving and we have the GPS... and more than 2 turns or 5 min. after leaving the highway sounds waaayyy too far for her...

Sadly, some of my "must do's" I havn't found. It seems some restaurants are not "near highways" type.
I found many Applebees (altough there was a point where I was very scared).
No problem finding Taco Bells (we finally had one here! It opened about a year ago. It's 45min. from my house. Sadly, it tastes nothing like in the USA and it has about 1/2 the choices. So altough me and my best friend -from the roadtrip, who loves TB as much as I do- had predicted we'd be there almost once a month -even though it's quite a drive- only went once...)
I know there's an Olive Garden close to DTD. But this close to Disney, I guess we'll want to eat IN Disney! But I think we won't have a choice, since I didn't find another one yet. The sad thing is, I'd like to eat there at least twice... I'm sure if we go only once, I'll never be able to decide on what to eat!
I found many Cracker Barrel, and I want to try this (is it any good? Is this a good choice? Should I stick another Applebees meal instead?).
I was desperate, but I finally found a Friendly's! Now it's a problem, since it's beside that HoJo we now should only get in at 10pm... Hope I find another one! (I remember a chicken ceasar's salad to die for! And since it was 5 years ago, it must have been good!)
My desperation : didn't find a TGIF!!! Where are those hidden???
My list (yes, I have a list) isn't close, but I think that's it.
What I know is : don't want to eat at any place we have here : no Pizza Hut, no KFC, no McDonalds, etc.

Talking about food... do you guys would know if there's any place besides Le Cellier serving Canadian cheddar cheese soup??? I love me some cheese and I loooove soup. So... Now, I could be disappointed, but I'd love to try it! (I know, "what? She's canadian and never tried that?" No. Often put cheese -yes, cheddar cheese- in my broccoli cream -soup, if you want- but never that.).
I saw it on the Mother's Day brunch menu, but it was confusing : There were the breakfast items, then the lunch items, some were clearly identified as part of only one or the other but some were not identified altough they seemed to be only for one or the other, so I really don't know. I wouldn't count on it though.

But we don't want to go to Le Cellier. Maybe some other time (like in 2012), but we don't feel like we need to eat Canadian fare on our first WDW visit. But that soup!...

Yeah, back on that mother's day brunch... Breakfast and lunch items, some rolled out after breakfast and others rolled in then. What??? Isn't the point of a brunch exactly to have both type of items at once?! I don't get it... And thus I'm disappointed to see the lunch items (or at least some of them) missing for our seating (we'll be there at 10h30, so breakfast!). But... seeing the menu made my mouth water!!! Mmmm. We'll have a feast! Happy I paid 100$ for that!

I mean... No, I'm really not! I'm happy I seem to be getting my money's worth and happy I didn't miss on that. It's more like it!
I hope she'll like it!

Oh! I remember one thing I wanted to tell you in that lost post!
(would you believe I saved this one about 10 times now?! Which would mean selecting all the text and hitting "copy")...

I've been reading (well, looking at) the "food porn" thread. (what a horrendous name). And was very sad to notice it's now closed! Well, I understand, it was getting long, at more than 500p. But now, where am I going to put the pix of my food? I don't want to put those on my regular TR... it would make it too long, and they wouldn't really belong there anyways. Like the croc pix will go on the croc exchange thread. Maybe one or two food (and croc) pix will go on the TR, if they're really special, but that's it...
I guess most food pix look the same over time, but it's the point, right? To see if anything's changed, to see what's new, etc. Menus always change... And people don't always take pix the same way either...

Anyways, if you want to take a look, go to http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=773269
But don't go if you're hungry!!! It's really incredible the effect those pix can have on you! Just thinking about it, I'm starting to get hungry and it's going to be hard not to go take a look before going to bed! (that, too, like most things DIS, is addictive!)
For one, I'm starting to wonder if we should add this and that restaurants to our itineraries (not as ADRs, since that is really clear : we don't want more. But maybe try walk-ons or late ADRs, like the day before or same-day), because some pix are really inspiring...
I'm sure I gained weight just looking!
But it's also very useful!

Until next time!

 

[swwake]

don't have much time or energy tonight, but there is a new food porn thread (if you ever get through that first one!)

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1712222

 

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

OK, I'm supposed to go to bed (well, I'm IN bed, but it doesn't count), but I'm thinking of what I wanted to write about and thought if I was to take notes not to forget, I should as well write the post...
See, I just wrote half what I was thinking about, the other half seemed too much for that same post (plus one part of that post came from the "deleted post").

Well, there's also the fact that, if I neither take notes nor write it, I'll write it in my mind and it'll keep me from sleeping anyways.

Worst part? I'm starting to forget!!! I'm really tired... That's what it means to have neurocognitive symptoms, to have concentration problems, to have mental fatigue.
It means you're thinking about something and forgetting about it while thinking about it!
It means starting to write a sentence and being so tired your head is like in a fog and your mind goes to take a walk... so by the time you finish the sentence, you either can't end it, or you end it writing on a different theme without realizing it... That's why I can't work or go back to school. Believe me, I tried. It was, for me, the most frustrating part of the illness. Because I know I'm not stupid, because I had achived great things and have diplomas -including in arts and litterature... litterature! And now I have trouble with reading and writing!
Now, there are times I have trouble reading the newspaper or writing a simple email.
Writing this PTR is good for me, even though it takes me a lot of time, because it keeps the brain working. It's like physio for my brain.

OK, where to begin... I realize I'll need notes anyways, just to make it through this post!

Ah, first, I'll make new introductions (maybe I'll add pix later). Those are all people who won't make the trip of course, but I've talked about them without properly introducing them and that bugs me. Hope it bugs you too, or those introductions will just bother you!

First, lets explain something : I've talked about my best friend. And then about my best friend. It's because I have 2 BF. One's male, the other female. It's just that way! I don't love one more than the other, they're both special to me in their own way, each have a different history, etc.
In fact, now I'm ill, they're my only friends. Only ones that stuck by me.
All the other people who called themselves my friends when I was healthy left the scene, some more quickly than others. Some keep contact once or twice a year, but I wouldn't call those people "friends". In french we have a word for those people who you know but aren't friend with, it's "connaissance". I guess in english you just call them a "contact"?

BF1 : Sophie. She's exactly my age, as our birthdays are 4 days apart. We grew up neighbours (but with a quarter of a mile of corn fields between our houses!). We discovered we were neighbours when we were 8y.o. and our friendship started immediatly, which means we've known each other for 20 years. We've been best friends for about 12 of those years.
She and her spouse (they've been together for 12 years) is a highschool classmate of ours. They now have their house (about 25 min. drive from here) and are now the proud parents of 2y.o. twins (yes, identicals ).
Let's call the twins T-A and T-M. I love them as much as if they were my nephews and my godsons. They are neither (altough they call me "auntie" in the absence of a better name...) But I feel like they are and I treat them like it. I shower them with gifts even though I don't have the money. I guess that's why they learned my name quite fast... I envision buying them their Christmas and birthday (January) gifts in Disney as well as little souvenirs so I could give them something when I get back...
I don't see them (or their Mom) as much as I'd want to. I see Sophie a little more often than I see them, since of course we sometimes want to see each other without the boys. She has a hectic work schedule and of course, with 1 university class a week and twins on top, it makes for as much a hectic home schedule. We try to enforce a new plan since the holidays : see each other once a month, even if it's only a couple hours, and call each other once a month, to contact each other twice a month. Well, that's what we try to do.
I also want to buy Sophie's Chirstmas and birthday (June) gifts in Disney. But since her birthday's so soon after the trip, I think I'll be able to forgo the souvenir (or include it in the gift in a way or the other).

My secret hope is to accompany the family on a future trip to the World , either as "the fifth wheel" (which is something I usually hate, but if it meant going to Disney, especially to see the twin's reaction, I guess I could manage! ), or even better, only us girls with the twins. I guess it would take either dad not wanting to go or wait until at least their 2nd trip for that... I know Sophie wants to take them someday, since she talks to them about it (now that it's not too dangerous, since thet don't really get what she means! )


BF2 is Alex. He's a little younger than me (1 1/2 year). We met at the university.
I had heard about "love at first sight", but never had I known there was such a thing as "best friend at first contact". We met and were best friends immediatly. We went through a lot because people have a hard time believing in male-female friendship. We laughed (still do) a lot about it and sometimes even used it (like when we went out and a guy was harassing me). But I must admit it's nagging to always have to split the check at restaurants because people always assume we're together (even if we were, we could be splitting!).
He lives with his girlfriend of 5 years (I think... never sure exactly) and they just bought a condo.
We did a lot of politics together (in fact, he got me into it).
It's with him I did the 3 weeks 2003 roadtrip. The only thing that makes me sad about him having a girlfriend is he now got someone else to travel with. Well... I must be real tired to say that, since our roadtrip went real bad .
I don't think we should never go on a trip together again, at least, not that type. (well, I don't know, we changed a lot, but I would try something shorter before going for 3 weeks!).
But it's true : I plan trips and don't have anyone to go with, he'd like to come but he's got to save his money to go on a trip with her (and of course their trips are always more interesting, because they have much more money than I've got!).
She's as much a traveler as he is : They did a 5 week long roadtrip 2 years ago (across Canada, down West Coast to Mexico, diagonal back to Québec) and 6 weeks across South America this summer. They're now planning 2 more trips. One in NY city I think, the other in Europe (don't know when exactly). So jealous!!!
They're also planning... a baby! To come in about 2-3 years.
His girlfriend wouldn't mind us 2 going together on a trip though. It's just, Alex prefers putting his money on trips with her, for bigger trips, than putting money on shorter trips with me. Which I understand, but mind! Come on! I can't make all my trips with my parents or alone!
Maybe we'll plan one and really do it soon. We'd like to go back to CedarPoint and I'd like to go back to Washington, and since he's never been and he's really into politics, maybe we could do a weekend thing. Those, or at least one of those, could maybe fit both our budgets.

OK. I think I'll stay in the off-topic matters...
Remember, I was saying my dad sounded like he would be ready for a dog? I finally asked Mama about it. And she said she felt the same way : that she thought my dad sounded like he was warming up to the idea. But he didn't talk to her about it and she thought the same thing I thought : he's so unpredictable and even dangerous... It doesn't mean anything and one word the wrong way, it all could go awry. But she thinks it could now be possible. And she didn't say SHE didn't want a dog.
I just had the hardest time containing myself!!!
So now the trouble will be trying to read my dad's intention/feelings, trying to talk about the possibility of a dog at the exact right time, using the exact right words, etc.
How to say what kind of dog I want, say that the beagle (or the new puggle variation ) would be the best dog for our needs (unless they're willing to put more money, because a King Charles Spaniel would be the very best), that what we really need is a puppy, so we can train it... That we need the right equipment to train it right (cage, good leash, etc.), because if we don't do it properly, the dog won't be as good and fun, and we'll regret buying a dog!
How to tell him especially to not go and buy the dog while we're away "as a surprise"... Because, for one thing, it'll be important that I'll be there to show it to my cat...
How to say all those important things to my dad, and at the same time make it look like we let him decide everything and don't tell him anything? Because he rejects every suggestion and bucks as soon as he feels we tell him what to do.
Or how to do the magic trick of making him accept that the best would be to make this a family thing, a family decision and go buy the dog all together?!
A little pixie dust would be welcome...

There's only just one thing that worries me if we do get a dog.
My cat.
Not in the way that she wouldn't get used to it. She was raised in a house where there were many cats and some dogs, and it's at that age that it matters. Sure, it would take some getting used to, but I'm sure she would be OK, especially since it would be a puppy, smaller than she is.
No, what worries me is the relationship aspect. Mama is convinced I would lose the extra special relationship we share. That Colombine would become more distant, more independant, etc.
I wonder if I'd be able to have enough attention and time for both of them. I'm sure I'd have enough affection. After all, it's like children : people wonder how it's possible to love the second as much as the first, but some have 10 and love all of them equally! Love is not limited.
But my cat could change towards me because she has to "share" me... Because the dynamics would change... I don't know. I think it's possible.
I also think it's possible it wouldn't change (or maybe just at first, but it would come back to normal), I saw or heard of people with 3 cats, for example, and the person had one on her lap, one on her shoulders and one at her feet. Or same picture, but it's a dog at the feet...
I don't know... it's the only thing that could prevent me getting the dog. I want it for it's joy, for it's love, for it's warmth, to make us all take small walks and to cuddle. But I don't want it so much as to lose my cat!

OK... the rest will have to wait!
Nest : the real Disney PTR post...!