The LONGEST PTR ever...2012 here we come! :) *DATES!! PG 10*

[*Seanaci*]

Car is at the shop. Diagnostic determined what we already knew...car is in good running order aside from the chewed wiring.

The cost of repairs exceeds our insurance deductible by $10! So, we won't be fighting with them about that.

All said and done, we'll walk away paying no more than $700 (diagnostic and oil change wouldn't be covered by insurance).

Hoping it'll be done tomorrow. I'd really like to get it to the emission testing place this weekend so that I can go next week and get the new tags. Which are now 60 days past due. Which means a late fee on top of the $75 renewal fee. However, I plan on taking my paperwork from the mechanic with me and seeing if they'll waive that fee due to it being in the shop to be repaired so it passed inspection. We'll see. Worst they can say is no and I pay $105.77 instead of $75.

 

[*Seanaci*]

double post

 

[*Seanaci*]

Ok. Car was actually ready the same day I dropped it off. I was super excited. $687 later, it runs great again. Friday morning, I woke up at 7 so I could take it to the emissions testing place (which opened at 8) and get that out of the way without having to drag the babies. Since they got me in and out and my car passed with flying colors, I decided to drive over to the motor vehicle office and renew my tags as well. All the while mind you, I'm checking my rearview mirror and looking around panicked thinking "Ok. Where's the cop that's going to stop me for my expired plates?" Come on, tell me you wouldn't have been thinking the same thing? Luckily, I made it to the MV and got in and out of there in less than 20 minutes with my new tags in hand. Oh, I had to pay $105...the lady didn't even seem partially interested in my sob story of why I was so late in renewing them. *shrugs* Oh well. I'm sure she's heard every excuse in the book.

Anywho! I left there and promptly found a car wash (the thing was filthy and the tags wouldn't have stuck had I just popped them on the dirty license plate). After it was washed and dried, I pulled over and plopped those tags on and was officially leagl again.

Now we just have to get to Home Depot and find Critter Ridder. The janitor at mom's work told her about it. It's basically fox or cyote(sp?) urine. Not sure where we'll have to spray it...if it's safe to spray it under the hood...we'll have to read the bottle first and see. But, for now my car is parked further down than normal to hopefully throw those little buggers off the scent.

And I'm planning on driving it a couple times a week when dad's not driving it (he decided he's going to switch between driving his car and my car back and forth to work...which makes sense as I don't go places with the boys that much...right now ).

So yeah. $850 later (between car repairs, the cost for the emission test, and the cost of the renewal tags) the car runs great and is legal for the next year.


Trip Update!
So, I am actually excited to say that mom is rather excited about the trip.

We were sitting at lunch Saturday talking about various Disney related things, and trip related things. we all pretty much agreed that we will be staying in a family suite; be it at DAoA resort OR ASMu again. We liked the convinence of two bathrooms, a living area, and a little kitchen area including fridge and microwave. It was nice to be able to come back to the room for a break and be able to sit on a couch and relax to watch tv rather than on the bed and risk falling asleep (not that it would be a bad thing to nap, but we're just not the napping kind of people).

Anywho. We also discussed a suite vs one room (with 5 of us, 4 adults and a child) it would be cheaper (I think) but cramped (what with suitcases, shopping bags, day packs, etc). And I told her that having a family suite is the equivelant to having two connecting rooms as far as price goes (minus the extra charge to have a fridge in one of the two connecting rooms)...so it just makes sense to book a suite. Not to mention, while regular beds in two connecting rooms would be more comfortable...for Disney, I'm willing to sleep on the pull out couch and be uncomfortable for 7-10 nights.

So, we will be staying in a family suite...be it at DAoA or ASMu.

Personally, I'm excited for either resort. Would I like to stay at the new Resort? You betcha. But, it's Disney, and let's be honest, even if you have to stay at the same old place you stayed last time, you'd do it.

I'm getting excited for the trip. And so is my son.

Whenever we see a Disney commercial...heck when us adults TALK about the trip, his reply is (and rather excitedly I might add) "We're going to Disney World!" And we ARE!

Anywho! I am so looking forward to the trip. Keegan will be 5...and should tall enough for Soarin' and Test Track. He might be tall enough for the roller coasters and ToT...but I'm not sure he'd want to ride them...at least right now. But I know he'd enjoy Test Track and Soarin' (or at least I hope he'd enjoy Soarin'...I have no idea...I've never ridden it...sadly, when we went in 2008, that one got overlooked...and I was sad ).

Ok. I guess that's about it for the trip update.

Thanks for reading! [/FONT]

 

[PirateKate]

You've never ridden Soarin'? It's such a great ride! It'll be fun going on all the big rides with Keegan.

I agree, really anywhere on Disney property is fine. I'd be eager to check out the new resort, but I'd certainly be happy to stay at an old one, too. Anywhere to be at Disney.

 

[*Seanaci*]

Kate...I've never ridden Soarin'. It wasn't there in 2003 when mom, dad, and I went. Mom and dad rode it for the first time at Disneyland (2005 or 2006, can't remember when).

When we went in 2008, Keegan was 14 months old...and while we made it to the Land Pavillion to ride The Land...by the time we got there, Fastpasses were out. And I believe we only did one full day of Epcot.

Oh well. 2012 is the year to ride it. No matter what.

Oh. And can I just add...I'm really really really eager to be at MK for rope drop...mainly for the show that opens the park. Watched one I found on YouTube from December...and it made me cry.

We actually had a Crystal Palace breakfast reservation in 2008...got into the park before the opening show...so we JUST missed it.

 

[PirateKate]

Kate...I've never ridden Soarin'. It wasn't there in 2003 when mom, dad, and I went. Mom and dad rode it for the first time at Disneyland (2005 or 2006, can't remember when).

When we went in 2008, Keegan was 14 months old...and while we made it to the Land Pavillion to ride The Land...by the time we got there, Fastpasses were out. And I believe we only did one full day of Epcot.

Oh well. 2012 is the year to ride it. No matter what.

Oh. And can I just add...I'm really really really eager to be at MK for rope drop...mainly for the show that opens the park. Watched one I found on YouTube from December...and it made me cry.

We actually had a Crystal Palace breakfast reservation in 2008...got into the park before the opening show...so we JUST missed it.

Now, rope drop is something I've never done. We all like our sleep too much to get up early on vacation. We might make it in October, if we can get ready fast enough.

It's kind of nice that you haven't been on Soarin' yet. It's sort of like learning you have one more Christmas present under the tree.

 

[*Seanaci*]

Need prayers my friends.

My sister lives blocks from San Francisco bay. She is set to evacuated in the next 3 hours due to tsunami strong wave surges from the earthquake that hit Japan. Scary stuff. Mom woke me up thirty minutes ago to tell me what is going on. No way in he11 can I go back to sleep now.

 

[*Seanaci*]

Sister is great. Due to it being low tide the waves are simply raising the water to where it would hit normally during high tide. So all is well.

 

[LuvsTigger80]

hey there! seems like you have had a busy few months.....

that's scary that your sister had to be evacuated...at least everything was ok! I live miles from the beach and thankfully no one had to be evacuated here. And I think we only got 3 ft waves at the most.


You'll love soaring...it is one of our favorite rides. But we can't ride it at Disneyworld...it makes us miss home too much...lol. We did it once and walked off confused.

 

[*Seanaci*]

hey there! seems like you have had a busy few months.....

that's scary that your sister had to be evacuated...at least everything was ok! I live miles from the beach and thankfully no one had to be evacuated here. And I think we only got 3 ft waves at the most.


You'll love soaring...it is one of our favorite rides. But we can't ride it at Disneyworld...it makes us miss home too much...lol. We did it once and walked off confused.

She actually didn't have to be evacuated...thank goodness. The city just prepared for the worst.

And yes...it has been a busy few months. I need a laptop of my own (thinking of taking mine in for a diagnostic...it was only 3 years old when it "died"...I'm thinking it's the fan that went...and it probably needs a new power cord...but for $140 I can at least find out if it's worth it to fix it rather than get a new one) so I can really dig into my trip planning.

Lol about Soarin at WDW.

 

[*Seanaci*]

So, budget cuts in education continue on...as I believe was mentioned earlier in this TR.

Today is the day mom finds out if she's got a job next school year.

She just called me and says that she is safe for another year. So she has a job for the 2011-2012 school year.

Always good news.

About this time next year we should find out if she'll have a job for 2012-2013(trip year). Crossing my fingers she makes the cut next year as well.


So, guess now it's time to start saving.

 

[*Seanaci*]

God I love my son.

We have about 5 or 6 Disney Specials on instant view on Netflix. He just said to me

"We are excited to ride on a plane and go to Disney World."

He melts my heart. I've got a Disney-lover on my hands.

 

[DenGrampy]

May the "Magic" live in my roos heart forever...

 

[PirateKate]

That's cute, your son excited about Disney World. Isn't it fun when they start to really get into Disney stuff?

 

[YukiPhnx]

It's great that your mom will have work for the coming school year!

 

[*Seanaci*]

That's cute, your son excited about Disney World. Isn't it fun when they start to really get into Disney stuff?

It's awesome!!

It's great that your mom will have work for the coming school year!

We are so very greatful that she has work for the coming school year. Now we just have to cross our fingers that she has work for the 2012-2013 school year.

 

[*Seanaci*]

Nothing to...exciting to update on. At least not on the trip end.

We went Mimi Camping Thursday night and Friday night. Mimi camping is when we go stay in a hotel and swim in the pool and generally just get out of the house for a few days (we're not tent or RV camp people...just can't do it, lol). Anyway. It was fun. All 5 of us in a studio suite. Had lots of munchies...drinks...and toys for Keegan.

However, his favorite part was the pool! I'm so proud of this kid. We did mommy and me swim lessons last fall...and he did well. I figured we'd be back to square one with swimming those two days. But nope. He was totally cool in the water with us. He'd even lay back and backfloat like he was taught during swim lessons. He was also jumping in with no fear. And he was even letting my mom and dad and DH hold him in the deeper water. Which is what I was really wanting...for him to be comfy swimming with any of us and not just me.

Overall...Mimi Camping was great. Well, aside from the 4am fire-alarm wake-up call. After gathering Keegan up (I ended up on the pull out couch with him during the night because he kept getting woken up by doors slamming shut) and walking down 5 flights (yeah, we were on the 5th floor) of stairs to the lobby...we found out that a broken fire sprinkler had caused the rukus. So, back up 5 flights of stairs (because really, we didn't feel like waiting for the elevator) and back to bed. But not to sleep. That day also ended with a tragedy in the family. My lovely little camera, that I've barely had for 2 years (cause my dad bought it for me before we took Keegan to see his other grandparents back in 2009)...it bit the dust.

Well. Took a swim is more like it. I took it down to the pool to take some pictures of Keegan swimming and playing. I got out of the pool, dried off my hands, grabbed the camera and walked over to the side of the pool; intending to sit with my feet in the water so I could take pics of just Keegan (come on, I see myself naked...I certainly don't need bathing suit pictures of it ). Well, as I was turning the camera upright (I was still standing up), I dropped the camera on the wet pool deck...from there, it bounced right into the pool and down to the bottom of the shallow end. >_< Let me tell ya, if the water didn't kill the camera, the drop did. It's dented on two corners badly. Oh well. I did want to buy a new camera for the Disney trip anyhow. Now I just have more time to shop for it...and justify buying a new camera. (I'm one of those people who, even if it's a few years old, I'll use it...even if I really wanted a new one.)

So, now it's time to shop for a new camera. And I am open to any and all suggestions from my DISer friends!

Ok. Guess that about wraps it up. Hope everyone is doing great.

I feel more trip updating in the near future.

 

[*Seanaci*]

Also...I need to get my dad's siggy a ticker. It looks...bare.

 

[DenGrampy]

giving me my own ticker...that would be wonderful...you are a good daughter.

 

[*Seanaci*]

giving me my own ticker...that would be wonderful...you are a good daughter.

I do try.