~The Man Report 2006~~~~~End & Summary~~~~~Lots of Pictures

[Linnie The Pooh]

No problem! We'll keep posting on a daily basis, especially now that I'm on a man-sized keyboard for my man hands. Much easier. I have a good friend who I talk to not nearly often enough, but every time I do, she always says how entertaining our lives are. I believe she put it something like, "You have the weirdest things happen to you." I don't know if we have weird things happen to us or if we're just weird ourselves. Probably the latter.

I have a surprise picture coming at the end so stay tuned-I think it's something everyone will get a kick out of seeing.

remfam5, not only did I grow up in Billings-I'm a true native. I was born here and have lived here ever since. I love it.

 

[pixie dust 112]

Welcome back! Glad you had a safe trip home. Are ya unpacked yet? We got back on October 2...so we'll probably unpack soon!

 

[Montana Disney Fan]

Thanks for more pics. As I've said before, you have a beautiful family.

Wow, thank you VERY much. You are too kind.

Hey, guys, would it be too much to ask for you to keep reporting like this about your regular lives back at home? I'm afraid you've created countless addicts here and you can't just cut us off cold turkey! I hope your trip home is uneventful and easy!

Heh, we’d love to except you guys would get tired of us QUICK. We are actually quite boring. Each day would be “Buzz came home from work, ate dinner, then went to his office and worked some more.

Montana Disney Fan, here are some for you for your wonderful trip report. And, Linnie The Pooh, here's some for you - we all know you're the glue (duct tape?) who holds it all together.

Here's to more entertaining reports!

Thanks again! I never would have thought anyone would have been interested in these. I did last year just to keep a journal for us to print off later and it worked great so we thought we’d do it again this year.

There are so many other reports that are like pieces of art and a joy to read. Mine looks to be written by a dim-witted fourth grader.

I’ve got 4 installments left so please stay tuned (Day 10-Part 2; Day 11-Epcot, The Last Park; Day 12- The Trip Home; and finally, The “Summary”).

 

[MomPlanner22]

Hope this means you are home safe and sound in Montana and still not being held captive in the Denver airport!

Great TR! I'll be sticking around until the end (so sad!).

 

[pixie dust 112]

Wow, thank you VERY much. You are too kind.




Heh, we’d love to except you guys would get tired of us QUICK. We are actually quite boring. Each day would be “Buzz came home from work, ate dinner, then went to his office and worked some more.


Thanks again! I never would have thought anyone would have been interested in these. I did last year just to keep a journal for us to print off later and it worked great so we thought we’d do it again this year.

There are so many other reports that are like pieces of art and a joy to read. Mine looks to be written by a dim-witted fourth grader.

I’ve got 4 installments left so please stay tuned (Day 10-Part 2; Day 11-Epcot, The Last Park; Day 12- The Trip Home; and finally, The “Summary”).

But who doesn't love a dim-witted 4th grader?

 

[Montana Disney Fan]

Hope this means you are home safe and sound in Montana and still not being held captive in the Denver airport!

Great TR! I'll be sticking around until the end (so sad!).

Yes, we're home, safe and sound and all unpacked. Kids are in bed after a 17 hour day. We were going to cook but were too tired so we ordered in Chinese from our favorite restaurant.

Darn it! I'm giving away my trip report now! I gotta get off this darn thing and go to bed!

 

[stinkerbelle's mom]

Welcome Home Clan Mills, Welcome Home!

So sad we're thisclosetotheend.

 

[Exevale]

Fantastic report. I am a Mom of a DS with very similar outbursts as your DS. I applaud the way you deal with them. If they aren't of the worst variety, keep going...when they get out of control nip it in the bud, remove the stimuli and laugh about it later. As someone who wished they bagged an Illuminations cruise but instead spent the entire cruise holding DS's belt to keep him seated and dealing with his tourrettes like spew of curse words, I think you guys did the right thing.

I loved the way you dealt with the MGM day and no meds. I've forgotten DS's meds once prior to the parks, it can happen. I also accidentally sedated my brother with DS's meds that trip but that's another story. lol Can't wait to for the wrap up. Thanks so much. Great report!
Edited to Add, I'm actually Densgirl using Exevale's computer. lol Exevale is actually a man and my brother.

 

[makinorlando]

I'm glad you had a safe journey home, and I look forward to the remaining installments of your report!

 

[svalencia1]

Your TR is great! It made me laugh so many times. You have a great, beautiful family. Thanks for sharing it with us. I'm looking forward to the last installments.

 

[Montana Disney Fan]

Day 10 – Part 2 – Gloria Gaynor, Please Retire

Ok, so the babysitter, being the consummate professional that she is, show’s up to our room at exactly 6 P.M. How do I know it’s exactly 6 P.M.? Those of you that now know me understand my watch is set to the SECOND according to the World Clock. Anything else would be unacceptable. The fact that she shows up at exactly the right time two times in a row make me want to marry her… or at the very least, hire her!

The wife is looking a little glum tonight. Not sure why I feel this, but I know her pretty dang good after 16 years. Anyway, the first night we went out (Sunday before) we stopped by the new Raglan Road restaurant at Pleasure Island around 10:30 PM for a little snack of Fish n Chips, wine and beer. It was tasty and the place is “live” and happening. Everyone that works there is from Ireland also. Oh, did I forget to mention that this is an Irish Pub? Sorry

Anyway, we both want to go back so since we don’t have ADR at any restaurants and we know this place won’t be packed on a Thursday night at 6 PM, we head there.

We wander in and sidle up to the bar. We decide to eat healthy since the vacation is coming to an end and the scales are awaiting us back in Montana. I am now in my “Zippy” shorts after managing to squeeze them on. It took a lot of effort on my part to brave that portion of the closet and not simply pack them up and stay in the “Stretchy” shorts. The only problem is the “Stretchy” shorts were starting to get a little “gamey” if you know what I mean and the wife woulda rebelled had I worn them for a record 5th night in a row.

Anyway, back to Raglan Road. Fish is always a healthy alternative & we all know that vegetables can’t be bad for you so we order the Fish n Chips. On top of that, we order an appetizer to split; deep fat fried & breaded Irish sausages with a mayonnaise based dipping sauce. Mmmmm, feeling healthier already!

One final note about Raglan Road at Pleasure Island: It Rules! Go there fore sure! You now have the Buzz & Lin “Seal of Approval” stamped all over this place.

After a brief stop at the World of Disney for Mickey cookie cutters, a Mickey hairbrush, Mickey Toe-Nail Clippers and stickers and stuff for the scrapbook, we’re off to the Boardwalk where we are going to park and then walk to Epcot for Illuminations.

We roll up to the gate at the Boardwalk; I show my DVC membership card and viola, we’re admitted without any problems. I am still stewing over the madam “Gate Guard” incident from earlier in the week. He also said “Welcome Home” Mr. Mills. I now feel special.

We roll into the self-park, find a spot up close, and walk the Boardwalk towards Epcot admiring all that is going on & the beautiful scenery.

Being a man’s man, I have trouble walking past the ESPN Zone without going in, ordering beer and appetizers, and watching the 1400 televisions they have on, each with a different sport. The wife drags me on by and I am denied. Maybe next year.

We make it to Epcot in short order around 7:45 to find that we’re not the only ones with the idea of coming here to watch Illuminations at the last minute. It seems very busy to me as we’ve been coming here and leaving each day around 1 PM. After talking to several cast members manning the many wine kiosks, I apparently don’t know what busy is. They all say it’s “dead”. Whatever!

We end up around the American Pavilion, grab a nice glass of Cabernet, and head down to the Gloria Gaynor show that’s about to start (you remember, “I Will Survive”) in the large theater there near the lagoon. We listen to a bunch of her songs that we’ve never heard before and then a butchered rendition of her only famous song comes on and we decide we’ve heard enough. The woman needs to think about retirement.

We head back towards France and England to stake out a spot for Illuminations as the torches are now lit and the countdown has started. The wife finds a nice little spot in France behind the French dude that draws the funny pictures of you. We cozy up, watch a wonderful show, then head back to the BW area.

My wife gets a little choked up during Illuminations. She can’t even talk she’s so overtaken with emotion and grief. I ask her “What’s up?” and she says “Why do all the stupid Disney songs have to be so sad?”. I explain that I don’t think they’re sad, I think they’re happy, but who am I to judge? I just listen to the music, completely ignoring the words to the song. They could be singing about anything and I wouldn’t notice.

She feels better as we approach Jellyrolls on the BW to watch the dueling piano guys. The place has many open seats so we grab a spot and watch for an hour. This place is a lot of fun but there is an $8 cover to get in. I think it’s well worth it. The two guys playing the piano are fantastic.

We stroll towards our car after that and take in some of the live entertainment along the BW. There is a mime, a juggler, and some other stuff going on. The kids all seem to love it. Moan Boy would hate it.

We finished the night up by exploring Artists Palate, the only restaurant at SSR where we’re staying. It’s kind of a store/restaurant all in one. We buy a few things for the kids and head back to the room to find our kids sleeping soundly and our babysitter watching a little TV. We pay her, hit the sack, and call it a day.

Tomorrow is the LAST day of parks and we’re hitting our favorite, Epcot.

 

[yellowtink]

OMG. That is the best drawing I've ever seen. The coundown was a good idea. I've done it before, accept I used happy faces. I wish I could draw like that. You beat the first number one by just a bit. OK it was just a fib you beat him by a long shot. I want to be able to draw like Linnie The Pooh some day, or even better if that is possible

Lid

 

[yellowtink]

I know that this took place a couple of days ago, but I have to admire you guys for cancelling the Fireworks cruise when Moan Boy couldn't take it anymore. Some parents would have just carried on, but you guys bailed when the kids really needed some time to regroup. Bravo!

I hope you have a good day today. How can you go wrong at the MK? (Well, don't let that be the title of your next post!) I hope you get pixie dusted!

Marie

I agree, sorry this is so late I just started today. Give him a break he is only 7, just imagine what he'll be like in about 6 or 7 years. Aka the teen years.

 

[thompsonsstation2dis]

Whatever happened to the “Humpty Dance” by Digital Underground? …or better yet, “Funky Cold Medina” by Tone Loc.

 

[yellowtink]

I never went down a slide till I was ten without an adult behind me. Moan boy is going down and he';s only 7. How Rude.


Lid

 

[blue_river]

I'm pleased you two are going to finish your report now that you're back home.

 

[Linnie The Pooh]

I did NOT buy Mickey toe nail clippers! If I would've seen them, I would've though! I did buy my mom and myself the Mickey head cookie cutters though. I couldn't pass them up.

I listen to the words of songs, what can I say. I studied piano and fancy myself as a musician. I really pay attention to the details of music and the way pieces are put together. The Disney ones are so emotional!!

Of course, this is coming from a person whose mom wouldn't let her watch Lassie as a child b/c I would get soooo sad I couldn't stop crying. Banned from watching Lassie.

Here are a few more pictures of my closet for those of you who were interested.

I've never posted pictures before so I hope this works and you can see it!!

 

[Linnie The Pooh]

I got a lot of comments on my closet so thought I’d post a few pictures of what it really looks like. Here is a brief description!

The top picture shows my dress up clothes. They are to the left on the screen. The top shelf is my skirts, followed by my pants. The bottom is my shirts.

The middle picture is: Top shelf-pants. Bottom shelf is the rest of my shirts followed by my sweat shirts. I’m not too happy with this area right now b/c it’s out of rainbow color order. I need to fix it up a bit. The folded up stuff above my shirts on that shelf is my dress shorts.

The third picture is obviously my shoe area. I used to have tons of different colored shoes. Now it’s mainly black, white, tan and a few navy blue thrown in. There are some folded up t-shirts that I wear to work out in or just clunk around the house in on that shelf. Above them are my sweaters. I don’t have too many of those anymore. I used to have about 50, but gave most of them away due to increasing amounts of hot flashes.

So there it is! In all its glory! Linnie the Pooh’s closet. I also have a box in there that is like a trunk that I keep my socks in. Couldn’t fit that in the picture. My grandma had the exact same box as my sock box that she kept all her money, gold and silver in. What a surprise that was to find when she passed away! Mine just has socks…..

 

[Montana Disney Fan]

Day 11 – ToiletCot – Our Final Day in the Parks – Friday, October 27.

Needless to say, the deep fat fried and breaded sausages along with the Fish and Chips from the night before at Raglan, may have been a mistake.

Our final day is always Epcot as it’s our favorite park. Going to the parks in the morning is no different than going to work now. After 11 days, it’s just a habit.

We arrive at Epcot and park. We no longer need to look at where we parked as we have the zones and aisles all memorized. Amaze 32, 17th car from the end. No, I didn’t have to look nor did I have to count. We all just knew.

Walking into Epcot, we angle to the left to get our Disney Stroller. I hand them our LAST stroller pass. *sniff*

We arrive at Innoventions East just as the rope drops allowing us to walk to Test Track. We ride.

Afterwards, we decide, what the heck, let’s give the boy his due, and we ride again.

Have you ever had this happen to you? Read closely. We get to the Pre-Show and Instructions of Test Track where they show you what you’ll be doing as far as tests and so forth only no show this time. In walks four Cast members who announce that we’ve been selected to all receive Disney Dream Fast passes.

They pass out about 25 of these passes to everyone and as we examine them, I see that they are fast passes to Test Track, Soarin’, Living with the Land, Mission to Mars, Honey I Shrunk the Audience and Maelstrom (Fast pass at Maelstrom has always made me crack up).

We now feel soo special! We wear them around our necks like Medal of Honor badges. As we walk the park, various cast members congratulate us on our passes. It’s soo cool. What better way to end a trip?

Hold up! Not so fast! Where is the fast pass to the Companion Bathroom? Little do I know at this time how much we will be needing this later.

We do it all! Then we do it again! On top of the passes, Epcot is empty for a Friday. It’s awesome. After Figment, we need a restroom break. After Soarin', again, the restroom break. Upon arriving at Germany, once again, a restroom break. I don't care though because arrival at Germany means bratwurst and beer for dady. With that, the trip is complete for me. I am satisfied.

After lunch, the wife announces she has to use the bathroom... again!!!, so we head to the Norway Companion Bathroom. For those that don’t know, the Companion Bathroom is a Disney stroke of genius. Its one big bathroom located near a few of the normal Men’s and Lady’s rooms that allow an entire family to use at once. It’s real handy with little ones.

I for one have never been on the inside of one of these engineering marvels. However, I know where every single one is in all of WDW and I can also tell you all about the park benches located outside of each and every one.

After departing this bathroom, we decide to try Test Track with our Dream Fast Pass. We make it about 100 yards from Norway when the wife announces the need to use the “facilities” again.

As we slow down near a bathroom, my daughter say’s “Why are we stopping”. After I tell her what’s going on, she yells “Again”! Even at 4 she’s knows that it’s getting ridiculous.

Our Favorite "Ride"

We finally make it on to the Test Track and are in line with the other Fast Passers when the wife says “Uh Oh”. GREAT! Here we go again! She bails out to use the bathrooms again knowing that I can’t leave or Moan Boy will freak out. This is a no win situation as he usually freaks out when mom leaves so either way, he’s going to freak out. Only problem is that I’m the one that will be stuck with him.

Well, it IS Test Track and it’s his absolute favorite ride so he doesn’t really care that mom has to go to use the bathroom again. She could have said she was leaving us forever to join the foreign legion and he wouldn’t have cared.

The ride went great and Moan Boy was fine. Apparently he’s finally figured out that I am one of his parents and am able to provide good care to him. It only took 7 years. Maybe the fact that I've never changed a diaper contributed to his thinking. Oh well, all is cured.

We all got to ride in the front row together instead of splitting up which was a first. We were also asked by numerous people on this ride where we got our Dream Fast Passes. This must be a new thing for Disney as most people (including us) have never heard of it.

Well, we finally leave Test Track to find mom waiting for us near our stroller. For some reason, she looks a lot thinner to me.

I managed to have this picture taken in between trips to the Companion Bathroom

We decide to end the day on that high note and head to the pool for 2 ½ hours of swimming at the little pool. I get numerous pictures of myself spitting water out of my mouth like the frogs. I seem to be the only one entertained by this.

For our last night, we hit Raglan yet again only this time with the kids. They have little trooper Irish Meals while I have the Bangers & Mashed and mom devours the “Kevin’s Bacon”. Really, that’s the name of it. Both are great!

We head back to the room where we pack and get ready to head home. This part is always so depressing. Most of our clothes are clean which will be nice when we get home.

It was a great day and now all I can think about is getting home. It’s a long way from SSR to Billings, MT. All in all, it will take us about 13 hours to make the trip. Stay tuned for that joyful trip coming up next…

 

[remfam5]

How WONDERFUL!!!
What a great end to your stay---- to get those fast passes!!

I too, found Epcot to be quite amazing! We had 2 1/2 magical days there and LOVED it!

Hope your flight home was smooth.
I know how you feel--- flying from Oregon, we technically lose 2 days going to to WDW, just because it takes so DANG LONG to get there and back!!