The DDA Trouble Free Zone Part 8

[julia & nicks mom]

Hello!!

Despite an extremely rocky start – I had an AMAZING weekend!!!

I posted my goodbye post – my ride (my mom) got here and I was ready to go – we were headed North to Dayton and really against the flow of traffic – I had checked in online and had nothing to check and Dayton is a small airport – It is a 45 minute drive and we decided to leave in time to give me over an hour leeway – at 6:15 we pulled onto the highway – and realized things did not look good – but we could not turn around and the next exit was 4 miles away – I called Steve he checked and there was an accident – just before the next exit – the radio said the backroads were worse than the highway and that was the best way to go – we had gone 2 miles in ½ hour and figured as long as we made the exit by 7:15 I would still have plenty of time – by 7:15 I still had ½ a mile to the exit – at 7:35 we pulled past the tail end of the accident clean up (I later found out that the highway had been closed from 3-6 am due to two separate accidents involving multiple cars and tractor trailers)

I made it to the airport by 8:00 for my 8:10 flight and saw the plane pull away from the gate as I rushed back there – I had already called Airtran and the lady told me she doubted I would get out that day b/c she had already had 10 calls from people missing flights in Dayton b/c of the accident and she was at the national call center

Remember when I switched flights from Delta to Airtran a few months back – well procrastination or whatever had stopped me from canceling that original Delta flight – so I knew worst case scenario – I would arrive that evening. I went straight to the Delta counter and for $25 I ended up on a flight arriving at 1:00 in Orlando – and the best news was that Airtran had so many people missing their early morning flights that they were delighted they didn’t have to fit me on a flight and they gave me a full ticket credit!!!!

I called Tammi and Kristine and made arrangements so Tammi could check in at the hotel and was told she would be able to pick up the rental car.

My mom and I headed to breakfast since I now had 2.5 hours to kill – only then did I leave my planner mode and got pretty upset about it – even though everything was working out – I hoped this wasn’t an omen!!

 

[babytrees]

No, I didn't. I was going to pick it up for myself, but I just couldn't do it. Katie is going through a growth spurt, and we're having to pump money into a wardrobe that covers her up! It's sad to see how tall she's getting. She's only 9 and she's almost as tall as me!

I do have it on my wish list for our anniversary, but I'm not holding out too much hope. Alan is giving me a trip to DL for our anniversary, so I can't be too greedy!

I so understand the having to pump money into a new wardrobe!!! Cassidy is finally growing and is almost as tall as me and Abi seems to be in the throws of a growth spurt which when done she will probably be taller than me(at 10!!). So we have slowly been adding to their wardrobes but I am not looking forward to back to school shopping, that is literally going to kill me I think!!

 

[Glynis]

So Glynis - do you turn them with a fish slice (or whatever you guys call that utensil that's flat rectangular with holes in) or do you give the pan a sharp shake to make the crepe flip over in the air?

I use a spatula (that's what we call it). I am in no way qualified to make anything flip in the air!

 

[Glynis]

glad you had a good time and for the size 12 not fitting either... although I have to say I didn't think you looked like a size 12 in your picture... you looked more like an english size 12 which I think is a US 8.

Keep up the good work

You are so sweet! I appreciate the compliment!

 

[tmfranlk]

Feel better, Denise, Robyn and Beth!

Ditto that!!

 

[Glynis]

Well I checked to see what discounts are available to me for DL, and this years rates were discounted between January and March to get an onsite hotel and a set of four two day tickets. So I'm go for DL! (And honestly, almost anytime is good for me except for the wedding weekends...but we wouldn't travel over spring break our 4th of July weekend would we?!)

Hmmm. Sounding better and better! Just let me know what works best for y'all, and I'll make arrangements to clear my schedule, farm my kids out, and meet you all in DL! I have the WDW half marathon in January, but after the first couple of weeks, I'm free and clear!

 

[kc10family]

I just finished another SSP. I will let the person who knows about this one to let you all know. She should have it by the end of the week, I will be mailing it/them/those/thing/things/stuff/item/items.





And another ones down and another ones down, another SSP finished (please sing this to the song "another one bites the dust")

 

[kc10family]

Patience, my dear. A trip report will be forthcoming. I took copious notes!

Copious notes?
How much did they pay you not to tell?
We can pay more!

 

[tmfranlk]

Well, let's get to planning! Ok people, start naming your best time in 2007.

Depending on our pending move, etc....January, March, May, Aug, Sept and following.

 

[Moonbeams]

It can get hot, but it's a different heat than most of you are used to. It's a dry heat. Zero humidity! August is doable!

I'll take the dry California heat any day over the heat and humidity of Florida, Texas or New York. DBF used to live in FL and is dying for us to move back (see signature below ) but I can't handle the humidity there. The min we step off the plane onto the gangway to walk into the airport terminal, I start to wilt. I can't breathe with all that wet air.

The other nice thing about CA heat, at least in SF where I'm from, is that it cools off at night. The fog comes in and cools it off so you can sleep. It's so hard to sleep when it's still roasting outside.

My mom just moved back to San Francisco, and it's just plain foggy there all the time. But after 8 years in NY, she's happy to be back in the cool summer weather. Her house is on a hill and the fog comes up to the windows and blocks the view. It's like trying to look out through cotton. But when the fog clears, the view and the weather are glorious. Sigh... it might be time for a quick weekend trip home.

Jennifer

 

[babytrees]

How dare work interrupt my DDA time!!

I was starting to type something out and got a phone call. Forgot for a minute what I was going to type!!

I think the next DDA trip should be after the 8th of April (that's Easter next year) but before June. Or sometime in September, but that may be too long to wait to meet you all!!

 

[kc10family]

So........ I think that smiley was made for you, Paula!

Sometimes I feel like one of those dogs…. Hey through the ball, hey hey through the ball. Or maybe it’s the "I have so much energy and I can’t stand the wait".

 

[kc10family]

HEADS UP!!!​

This is your notice that I will be out of the area from 1300 on Wed afternoon until about the same time on Thursday afternoon. Please make note of it, for I do not want to get in any trouble.

 

[Glynis]

Hello!!

Despite an extremely rocky start – I had an AMAZING weekend!!!

I posted my goodbye post – my ride (my mom) got here and I was ready to go – we were headed North to Dayton and really against the flow of traffic – I had checked in online and had nothing to check and Dayton is a small airport – It is a 45 minute drive and we decided to leave in time to give me over an hour leeway – at 6:15 we pulled onto the highway – and realized things did not look good – but we could not turn around and the next exit was 4 miles away – I called Steve he checked and there was an accident – just before the next exit – the radio said the backroads were worse than the highway and that was the best way to go – we had gone 2 miles in ½ hour and figured as long as we made the exit by 7:15 I would still have plenty of time – by 7:15 I still had ½ a mile to the exit – at 7:35 we pulled past the tail end of the accident clean up (I later found out that the highway had been closed from 3-6 am due to two separate accidents involving multiple cars and tractor trailers)

I made it to the airport by 8:00 for my 8:10 flight and saw the plane pull away from the gate as I rushed back there – I had already called Airtran and the lady told me she doubted I would get out that day b/c she had already had 10 calls from people missing flights in Dayton b/c of the accident and she was at the national call center

Remember when I switched flights from Delta to Airtran a few months back – well procrastination or whatever had stopped me from canceling that original Delta flight – so I knew worst case scenario – I would arrive that evening. I went straight to the Delta counter and for $25 I ended up on a flight arriving at 1:00 in Orlando – and the best news was that Airtran had so many people missing their early morning flights that they were delighted they didn’t have to fit me on a flight and they gave me a full ticket credit!!!!

I called Tammi and Kristine and made arrangements so Tammi could check in at the hotel and was told she would be able to pick up the rental car.

My mom and I headed to breakfast since I now had 2.5 hours to kill – only then did I leave my planner mode and got pretty upset about it – even though everything was working out – I hoped this wasn’t an omen!!

Wow! That is an incredibly rocky start! I'm hoping that things picked up from there! Based on the pictures we saw, you did end up having a good time. I hate it when things don't go as I plan them to.

Welcome home! We missed you a ton!

 

[Moonbeams]

What is the URL to look up special Disney tours (eg. Segway)? When DBF and I are there in June, I'd like to do something different. Do you have to have park passes to do the tours? Our annual passes expired and we can't renew them right now.

I might be staying at the Yacht Club looking at Epcot from the outside in. How sad is that?!

Jennifer

 

[tmfranlk]

Hello!!

Despite an extremely rocky start – I had an AMAZING weekend!!!

I posted my goodbye post – my ride (my mom) got here and I was ready to go – we were headed North to Dayton and really against the flow of traffic – I had checked in online and had nothing to check and Dayton is a small airport – It is a 45 minute drive and we decided to leave in time to give me over an hour leeway – at 6:15 we pulled onto the highway – and realized things did not look good – but we could not turn around and the next exit was 4 miles away – I called Steve he checked and there was an accident – just before the next exit – the radio said the backroads were worse than the highway and that was the best way to go – we had gone 2 miles in ½ hour and figured as long as we made the exit by 7:15 I would still have plenty of time – by 7:15 I still had ½ a mile to the exit – at 7:35 we pulled past the tail end of the accident clean up (I later found out that the highway had been closed from 3-6 am due to two separate accidents involving multiple cars and tractor trailers)

I made it to the airport by 8:00 for my 8:10 flight and saw the plane pull away from the gate as I rushed back there – I had already called Airtran and the lady told me she doubted I would get out that day b/c she had already had 10 calls from people missing flights in Dayton b/c of the accident and she was at the national call center

Remember when I switched flights from Delta to Airtran a few months back – well procrastination or whatever had stopped me from canceling that original Delta flight – so I knew worst case scenario – I would arrive that evening. I went straight to the Delta counter and for $25 I ended up on a flight arriving at 1:00 in Orlando – and the best news was that Airtran had so many people missing their early morning flights that they were delighted they didn’t have to fit me on a flight and they gave me a full ticket credit!!!!

I called Tammi and Kristine and made arrangements so Tammi could check in at the hotel and was told she would be able to pick up the rental car.

My mom and I headed to breakfast since I now had 2.5 hours to kill – only then did I leave my planner mode and got pretty upset about it – even though everything was working out – I hoped this wasn’t an omen!!

Crazy!! I am so glad that everything worked out for the best with your uncancelled Delta ticket. Even better that AirTran gave you a full credit! And now that you've left us hanging...how was the rest of the trip?!?!

 

[kc10family]

Yikes!!!

Although when I was over there it wasn't just you all being naughty!! One of my guy friends, 17, got a 13 yo pregnant and the biggest to do that was had was he was a NCO's son(and ROTC) and she was an Officer's kid.

Not the fact they were under age and doing blech!!

Oh man, now I have to worry about both of my babies having babies. Wait I've raised em better than that, they still "EEEEEEEWWWWWWW" when they see people kiss, phew.

NOT GOOD.

So my mother had advice for me and I plan to use it. She would say you must think of three things when you make a life changing decision.

1. Are you physically ready for this?

2. Are you emotionally ready for it?

3. Are you financially ready for it?



If you could answer all of them with yes, then go for it.



She did say one thing that I will never forget…. If you get pregnant as a teen, I will not take care of your baby Paula. (I think she said the same to my sister) This put the fear in me and the first baby was when I was in the early 30’s.

 

[kc10family]

Off to get Ellie from school.

 

[lmartin2711]

Hello!!
Despite an extremely rocky start – I had an AMAZING weekend!!!
My mom and I headed to breakfast since I now had 2.5 hours to kill – only then did I leave my planner mode and got pretty upset about it – even though everything was working out – I hoped this wasn’t an omen!!

Isn't it amazing you get everything planned out and then all of sudden there is a hurdle you didn't expect.

I have a large toiletry bag that is awesome. It has all our medication (prescrip and nonprescip) bath stuff, sun screen, .......everything. We spent the night with my brother and his wife on our 1st trip to WDW taking Austin and Alex. The plan was to leave their house in Tampa and drive straight to All Star Movies. We would check-in and leave our luggage in the car and head straight to the buses. Halfway down I10 I remembered I left the toiletry bag in the bathroom. Well.....I didn't leave it in the bathroom my husband did since he was brushing his teeth last. Anyway......we pulled over at an exit I called my sister-in-law and started crying on the phone since "my plan" had fallen apart. We turned around headed back and she hopped in her car and we only had to back track about 30 minutes. It was about 7am on a Saturday morning so I was very appreciative to her.

Sometimes it can be very emotional after so much planning has happened. I am glad everything worked out. It sounds like ya'll had a blast!!!

Lynn

 

[tinknme]

Have a safe trip Vicki!

Well, I'm off to Lansing. I'll be on the road for 8 hours. I always have my laptop so should be able to check in tonight. Hope you all have a great day!!!!