The Empty Nesters Magical Mystery Tour *1/28* Link to New Girl's TR p141

[KatMark]

Mega update, MEK.

Thanks for sharing Danielle's pictures again. I just love them...they put a huge smile on my face.

Wow...they really do crazy with the Halloween stuff, don't they?

Beautiful beach pictures. I'm sorry you weren't quite feeling up to your run.

Too bad your place for lunch was closed.

I knew Denny had a birthday, but I didn't know it was his 60th. Tell him Mark says welcome to the club.

 

[MEK]

Mega update, MEK.

Thanks for sharing Danielle's pictures again. I just love them...they put a huge smile on my face.

Mine too! I was so excited when I saw them on her TR. I definitely did the happy dance.

Wow...they really do crazy with the Halloween stuff, don't they?

It was like that in Charleston, too (I was there during Halloween a few years ago), but I think the decorations were better in St Augustine. It's really different from Disney where everything is pretty. The decorations in St. A were actually scary!

Beautiful beach pictures. I'm sorry you weren't quite feeling up to your run.

The consolation was it really WAS super beautiful on the beach. And so deserted every time we went up there. October must really be low season and I have no idea why because it was just such perfect weather.

Too bad your place for lunch was closed.

I'm sure K & T liked that place for some reason, but it totally looked like a dive bar to me. I'm sure it was yummy. We'll just have to go back another time.

I knew Denny had a birthday, but I didn't know it was his 60th. Tell him Mark says welcome to the club.

I sort of never mentioned that it was THAT milestone B-day! Yup - he is officially part of the club!

 

[teekathepony]

Aww! I love the group Photopass pics so much! Looks like you were all having so much fun together!
Love the rest of St. Augustine, that hotel alcazar swimming pool must have been really so,etching else in its day!
The beach looks so beautiful. I really must visit some Florida beaches some time.
I'm sorry that your call from work stressed you out, but I can't blame you. So glad that your schedule has levelled out now.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[DWGal210]

Those pictures of all of you are ADORABLE. Thanks for the heads up on Danielle's TR - I am going over there to read it after I comment here!

Another nice day, looks like you had a good time. They DO seem to take Halloween very seriously. That is a LOT of decoration!

Sorry the work situation made for a stressful day.

 

[natebenma]

I loved her. I wanted to bring her home. But she wasn’t cheap and I didn’t think she would fly well. Plus I would have to find a spot for her. But isn’t she cool?

NOT a little mermaid! I don't even know if she is a mermaid since I can't see the lower part of her body, but she looks like a mermaid to me.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Mary Ellen, I love each and every one of your pictures! Maybe, maybe, one day we'll take a day or two away from Disney and go to St. Augustine. It's just so beautiful.

Oh and, yes, us Southerners do decorate a lot for Halloween! When both kids were younger, our house and yard was decorated. We even had tombstones and skeleton hands coming out of the ground. I don't know why I decorated so much though because we never had any trick-or-treaters. We live down a tree lined driveway and at a dead end. I guess they are too afraid to come down in the darkness.

 

[Pluto0809]

Once again, thanks for sharing all of the St. Augustine pictures, what a beautiful town.

That restaurant was definitely in the Halloween mood. Almost a little too much.

Beautiful shots on the beach, they looked so relaxing.

Sorry that worry over your work schedule interfered with your vacation, I hate when that happens.

 

[natebenma]

Carson also told us about the chairs




Some are original. Some are not.



Not completely sure which is which, but the clue might have something to do with the face.

Is that Todd? Or Paul???

 

[natebenma]

Thanks for all the pictures and info on St. Augustine. Maybe you should forward that portion for your TR to the St. Augustine Tourism Board. Since so many responses indicate many of us now plan on visiting maybe they should send you some money for all the referrals!

No kidding!

Such gorgeous pictures are making us all dream about a trip here!

Love Flagler College- what a gorgeous building/campus. The dining hall is spectacular! Looks very Harry Potter to me- the Great Hall. Definitely an enchanted ceiling.

The sign says Flagler is a liberal arts college. Any idea if there is a specialty there? (asks the mom who will be going on college tours next summer and wouldn't mind putting this one on the list!)

 

[natebenma]

Fun photopass pictures!!!

I adore your beach pictures. Every single one.

Bummer about the restaurant being closed on Halloween. That SO doesn't happen around here!

Yikes about having to deal with the work worries.



Glad to hear things have improved.

I'll be interested to hear where you end up for lunch.

 

[jedijill]

I'm playing catch up on everyone's TRs.

Love the pictures of the college! Gorgeous!

I'm sorry that work drama stressed you out on your last day...that's no way to end a great vacation.

Jill in CO

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

If I didn't know better, I'd say that restaurant was owned by the crazy cat lady from the Simpsons. But I don't know if she also likes to decorate with skeletons.

Sorry for the job stress. I can't imagine why they would think that would be a great time to assign you all that work--what a bummer on vacation.

Looking forward to getting back to Disney!

 

[Leshaface]

First, I just want to say on behalf of my DH "THANK YOU FOR THE TICKETS ON CANDY CRUSH!" He's recently become obsessed with the game again and I can't get him off it. So please make note, that it is not me personally bugging you with CC requests, that's all him

I love the PP pictures with Danielle, her folks and Cynthia. You guys look like you're having such a great time! And you bet i'm subbed to her TR.

Ugh, that's how I felt today when I went for a run on the treadmill. Haven't worked out since Wednesday because of vacation. Too much drinking, too much bad food, not enough walking. I almost died today.

Wow, you're not kidding, this town is all about Halloween. How does a place shut down for the day though? That's crazy.

I would have been so upset finding out THAT work schedule too! Sheesh. Sorry you had to deal with that. Super bad timing.

 

[MEK]

Aww! I love the group Photopass pics so much! Looks like you were all having so much fun together!

We really were and it totally shows. It was so much fun to meet Danielle and her parents. They just exude energy. It was pretty cool!

Love the rest of St. Augustine, that hotel alcazar swimming pool must have been really so,etching else in its day!

The picture of the pool sort of creeps me out a bit. It just looks sort of dark and scary, but I'm sure for that time period it must have been a cool thing.

The beach looks so beautiful. I really must visit some Florida beaches some time.

You MUST! Seriously. I know it's tough to tear yourself away from Disney, but it is cool to see the beach as well. I really did like the Saint Augustine beach because it reminded me a lot of the beaches at HHI - nice and flat and easy to walk on.

I'm sorry that your call from work stressed you out, but I can't blame you. So glad that your schedule has levelled out now.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

It really DID stress me out. I was still in that adjustment phase and I still felt like I was trying to prove myself plus I offered to work the extra hours. But it just felt so overwhelming going back to that.

Those pictures of all of you are ADORABLE. Thanks for the heads up on Danielle's TR - I am going over there to read it after I comment here!

Thanks. Glad you like the pictures courtesy of Danielle and you are going to LOVE her TR. She is super funny and really keeps you laughing. Enjoy!

Another nice day, looks like you had a good time. They DO seem to take Halloween very seriously. That is a LOT of decoration!

I thought so too. Apparently that's pretty common common down there. It was fun to look at, but definitely a little creepy.

Sorry the work situation made for a stressful day.

Ugh. It really was not fun and even though I knew that it was going to get better, in the moment it just seemed so overwhelming. I'm glad those days are behind me.

 

[amazingact21]

A post-launch walk is just the thing to do.

I agree, ghost tours are in almost every tourist destination. My city doesn't have any of them, but give it time... Actually, I went on a tour in Key West, made it was really interesting. I learned more about the history of the city and listened to some interesting stories more than experienced "ghosts" but that was even better. So, I'd say if you're going to do one in FL, do one in KW.



Bars close on Halloween? Huh? That seems strange. You'd think that'd be a perfect time to make some money.



Yes, leaving FL is indeed difficult. I am quite attached to the place and will likely cry when Alex gets new orders.


Oh no, those work troubles sound awful. That's the absolute worst thing you need on vacation. Such a damper....

 

[MEK]

NOT a little mermaid! I don't even know if she is a mermaid since I can't see the lower part of her body, but she looks like a mermaid to me.

I don't think she was a mermaid, just a cool lady I found in a store window. I think she was in a seated position and about 2 ft high. I think she is just so darn cool! Love her!

Mary Ellen, I love each and every one of your pictures! Maybe, maybe, one day we'll take a day or two away from Disney and go to St. Augustine. It's just so beautiful.

Thanks Lisa! And it really IS a beautiful town and I really enjoyed the beach area. It had the best of both words - great beach and a really cool, fun historic area. I definitely want to go back for another visit.

Oh and, yes, us Southerners do decorate a lot for Halloween! When both kids were younger, our house and yard was decorated. We even had tombstones and skeleton hands coming out of the ground. I don't know why I decorated so much though because we never had any trick-or-treaters. We live down a tree lined driveway and at a dead end. I guess they are too afraid to come down in the darkness.

OMG - that is SO cool! I can relate to the lack of trick or treaters. Denny buys candy EVERY year and no one EVER comes to our house because we live in a very small development off of a main road. There are just too many other larger places to trick or treat.

Once again, thanks for sharing all of the St. Augustine pictures, what a beautiful town.

You're welcome. It really is a gorgeous place. I can't wait to go back and visit again. Seeing the pictures makes me want to go back right now!

That restaurant was definitely in the Halloween mood. Almost a little too much.

I'll have to agree with you on that! Some of those decorations were just plain creepy.

Beautiful shots on the beach, they looked so relaxing.

Thanks. The beach was just lovely. I really enjoyed my time there. I like beaches that have a lot of hard packed sand that make walking and running super easy.

Sorry that worry over your work schedule interfered with your vacation, I hate when that happens.

It was really distressing at the time and I let it get to me a little too much.

 

[afwdwfan]

From left to right: Danielle's mom Jackie, yours truly, Danielle's dad (the one and only Popadon), Danielle and Cynthia! We are just having TOO much fun!

Those pictures definitely look like you were having a blast!

I have to admit, I have always wanted to do a Ghost tour, but now that you can find one in just about every city in the United States, its sort of lost its appeal. I mean, come on, there can only be SO many ghosts.

I think the ultimate ghost tour would be in some type of vehicle like this...

Sign me up. I'm in!

This area of the Lightner Museum was formerly the Hotel Alcazar swimming pool. Built in 1889, it was the world's largest indoor swimming pool of its time.

Indoor swimming pool. 1889. I'm sure they had chemicals to use on it, but all I can think about is how nasty that stagnant water would be without all the pumps and filtration we have now.

Like I said, people in the south seem to take their Halloween decorations very seriously

Um... yeah.

I wouldn’t want this failing off the roof on MY head! Yikes!

Ok, looks like we're eating somewhere else...

Inside the restaurant continued to carry the theme pretty well

Wow... they really went all out. Impressive.

Seriously, bars close for Halloween? Who knew?

Well, you've been talking about how seriously people take Halloween around there. Maybe it is such an important local holiday where the entire town shuts down.

Looking back I just can’t forget how stressed I felt that afternoon and how many times I felt like bursting into tears because I was so afraid I wasn’t going to make it through that long stretch. Way to ruin a vacation.

That really is brutal. Vacation is meant to be a time away from all that crap. But I know that there is nothing you can do to turn it off once that news is broken to you. It really is too bad that work news had to ruin some of the experience for you.

 

[MEK]

Is that Todd? Or Paul???

I honestly don't know!

No kidding!

Such gorgeous pictures are making us all dream about a trip here!

You should try to visit if you can. It's a beautiful town. Just lovely and so much to see.

Love Flagler College- what a gorgeous building/campus. The dining hall is spectacular! Looks very Harry Potter to me- the Great Hall. Definitely an enchanted ceiling.

The dining hall was really spectacular. The ceiling was gorgeous. It was mesmerizing. They actually do a Harry Potter event every November. I remember Carson telling us about that.

The sign says Flagler is a liberal arts college. Any idea if there is a specialty there? (asks the mom who will be going on college tours next summer and wouldn't mind putting this one on the list!)

I think they have the usual liberal arts majors. I'm not entirely sure. But their website looks pretty good so you should check it out. I do know that the tuition is very reasonable for a private school. Not sure about acceptance rates and ranking.

Fun photopass pictures!!!

Thanks! I just love those pictures. We had so much fun that afternoon. :good vibes

I adore your beach pictures. Every single one.

Thanks. The pictures do remind me of how much I loved the beach there. It was really nice. I loved the hard packed sand and the emptiness of the beach. Just perfect.

Bummer about the restaurant being closed on Halloween. That SO doesn't happen around here!

Tell me about it. You would think Halloween would be a great business. Why in the world would they close?

Yikes about having to deal with the work worries.



Glad to hear things have improved.

Things have improved quite a bit, but at the time I was still feeling the stress from the work load and the adjustment.

I'll be interested to hear where you end up for lunch.

Well, I'll tell you this much - it had a gorgeous water view!

 

[MEK]

I'm playing catch up on everyone's TRs.

Where's your TR been? I haven't seen it bumped up in awhile. Hope I didn't lose my sub!

Love the pictures of the college! Gorgeous!

Flager was so gorgeous. I enjoyed every minute we spent inside and out of the buildings. So glad we decided to tour it. It really was a highlight!

I'm sorry that work drama stressed you out on your last day...that's no way to end a great vacation.

Jill in CO

Fortunately vacation wasn't over yet. We were heading back to Disney for 4 more nights. Despite that, I was not happy when I learned how intense my schedule was going to be when I got back. But things are much better now!

If I didn't know better, I'd say that restaurant was owned by the crazy cat lady from the Simpsons. But I don't know if she also likes to decorate with skeletons.

The owner's obsession with cats was a little over the top, to say the least. I know there are a lot of people who don't like cats or even despise them. Clearly she must be doing OK to risk losing them as costumers. And for the record, I am just assuming she's a cat lady. But she could be a cat man.

Sorry for the job stress. I can't imagine why they would think that would be a great time to assign you all that work--what a bummer on vacation.

Well, I needed to know my schedule and I did ask the secretary to call me when it came out (which used to be about 48hrs before it started). It would have been worse to go back not knowing it at all. I just didn't expect to go back to such an intense schedule and that did throw me for a little bit of a loop.

Looking forward to getting back to Disney!

Me too!

First, I just want to say on behalf of my DH "THANK YOU FOR THE TICKETS ON CANDY CRUSH!" He's recently become obsessed with the game again and I can't get him off it. So please make note, that it is not me personally bugging you with CC requests, that's all him

I forgot to comment on your TR when I saw that picture of him on the beach with his head covered playing Candy Crush. That's pretty funny!!!! So, yeah, I would say he's maybe just a little obsessed.

I love the PP pictures with Danielle, her folks and Cynthia. You guys look like you're having such a great time! And you bet i'm subbed to her TR.

We really did have a blast. It was so fun meeting them. I felt like I had known them forever once we finally did meet face to face. What a great family!

Ugh, that's how I felt today when I went for a run on the treadmill. Haven't worked out since Wednesday because of vacation. Too much drinking, too much bad food, not enough walking. I almost died today.

Ugh - isn't that the worse feeling. I felt like that on several mornings of my trip in October. It definitely got worse as the trip when on but I kept forcing myself to get out there because I knew I would be working FOREVER when I got home.

Wow, you're not kidding, this town is all about Halloween. How does a place shut down for the day though? That's crazy.

I have NO idea. You would think that would be a very profitable day. Go figure.

I would have been so upset finding out THAT work schedule too! Sheesh. Sorry you had to deal with that. Super bad timing.

Well, since it was October 31st I had no choice but to get the November schedule. I just didn't expect to work that much right after vacation. I needed to ease back into it a little more slowly.

 

[eandesmom]

I was so bummed that my run was so bad. In fact, I started to wonder if there was something wrong with me.

You think too much



(pot calling kettle black)

The checkout was a bit of drama, but what the worst was the check-in and my emergency text messages to you. OMG - clearly I was NOT having the best day all the way around.

OMG I didn't want to say any spoilers. That was just wild, I wanted to send you a cocktail through the phone!

Yeah - when you first start you are just trying to give 110% and establish a good working rapport with everyone. I had reached a point where I felt I had established that, but I didn't expect to go back to and have to work so many days in a row. I had just finished a 12 day stretch prior to leaving. It was crazy.

that's just brutal, and honestly, the work quality suffers as does morale I would think.

I absolutely LOVED it there! So awesome! So different from the Boardwalk, yet equally as lovely but in completely different ways.

I cannot wait to go there in just 3 months!

You can definitely feel the fun! They are awesome. I'm so glad we have them. Fun stuff for sure!

It was a blast