The New Kinder, Gentler Me - The Rubber Chicken is Loose!! Pg 19/#283!!!

[Lauralee131]

Ok, clearly I have been slacking in my TR writing. Before I know it, it’ll be time to start my pre-trip for our next journey and I haven’t even started the last one, so let’s get to it!

So most, if not all of you, have read the Magically Dysfunctional Gathering and the Magical Mulligan TR’s by now, so you should know who we are by now. For those of you just joining us, here’s a quick run down of our characters:

Me – Lauralee131…a.k.a. The Mominator. Clearly not a candidate for Mother Of The Year, but doing the best I can to raise my little man to be a good, strong and independent person, and hopefully by the time I’m done with him he’ll be all that and more. And with any luck he won’t have TOO many issues that he’ll have to work out in therapy years from now!

DS – Michael. He’s 5 years old and very handsome, if I do say so myself. He’s already proving himself to be the person I’m hoping he’ll be and more. He’s got a great sense of humor and a big heart. He’s turning out to be a huge fan of all things Disney, just like mom and even better than that…he loves all my favorite rides and will ride them over and over again with me…including the Tea Cups, which we spin like maniacs and giggle like…well, like 5 year olds, until we’re so dizzy that we can hardly walk off the ride.

DH – Tony. Not a huge Disney fan. Not in public anyway that is. I think that secretly he loves the Happiest Place on Earth. How do I know this? Well, not once, but twice I’ve asked DH for a “chick” trip – a trip for me to go to WDW alone…and he got a bit mad. Once was even to go for Super Soap Weekend. He was mad that I’d “actually consider going without us”…ok – so maybe DS has more to do with it than I think, but I think it’s one of those “you had to be there” moments. He’s a great dad and maybe a closet Disney freak.

Upon hearing of my plans for the upcoming Focker meet in August, DH pissily announced that he’s going to take his own vacation. He’s going to Vegas. By himself? Nope…he informed me, and I quote, “I’ve got guys. We’ll go to Vegas. If you’re going on vacation alone then I’m going on one too. I’ve got guys. We’re going to Vegas.” It was quite funny actually. These “guys” he’s got are new friends he’s made here – which is nice. They’re nice guys. Really they are. We both really like them and they’ve all become pretty tight in just a couple of months. They’re all constantly on the phone with each other…like chatty cathy’s. They stop at the local gin mill on the way home on Friday’s after work and as soon as DH walks in the door, his cell phone is ringing and he’s chatting and laughing with them again already.

Anywho, I’ve tried to warn DH that the only way he and his “guys” are going to Vegas is if he pays. And drives them all to the airport! Not one of them has a drivers license. One is married…quite unhappily…he has no license. His not-so-dear wife has to drive him around. Guess who he calls when he needs a ride? Yep…my DH. The other “guy” is also a great guy. With no car. Not sure if he’s got a license. So guess who swings by his apartment each morning to pick him up from work? Yep…my DH!

Ok, wait…where am I? How did I get here??? I must warn you that as of this writing (2/19) I am home sick from work. I need a root canal, ugh, badly apparently, I got this sudden mouth ache that felt like really bad labor pains in my jaw last Friday, out of nowhere and I’m all cranked up on Perc’s, Advils and anti-biotics.

Ok, so somehow this little quickie trip planned, cancelled and re-planned itself. It started in early January, when I noticed that DS had a couple of days off from school for “Protected Teacher Workdays” (whatever) on 1/22 and 1/23…I think those are the days anyway. I don’t have a calendar in front of me, but the days he had off were a Monday and Tuesday.

There’s a little airport in a town called Kinston, NC, about 25 minutes from our house that started advertising Allegiant Air was flying to/from Orlando (Sanford Airport) for as little as $29/each way on Fridays and Mondays.

That’s when it started…a little voice in my head…must like Jiminy Cricket, but with a deeper, scheming voice, if you can imagine that?

The way I saw it, DS and I could spend a quality weekend together for very little money. We had 54 DVC points to use up, annual passes and we could get cheap flights. It was almost as if Jiminy was saying “you’d be stupid NOT to go, Lauralee!”. Right along that same time line, DS started getting into trouble at school…notes home, silent lunch with the teacher, lost recess privileges and time-outs in every class. Including gym. Who, I ask you, gets a time out in gym class? When all they’re doing is running around playing dodge ball? Yep – my sweet faced boy.

I had just started running this trip by DH when all this school stuff went down. It started out with DH being mad as he wasn’t “invited” along. My story, and I’m sticking to it by the way, was that by the time we left Disney World in December, he’d had enough of the place to last him a while. I honestly didn’t think he’d want to go. Ok, so now our cheap weekend would be a bit more expensive with 3 of us, but no biggie.

Then one day DS came home with a note from just about every teacher. That’s when DH flipped out. That’s it. He can’t behave at school therefore, everyone has to suffer. No trip to Disney World. WHAT?!?!?! He also lost cartoons too. The poor kid went 3 weeks without cartoons. I don’t care about the cartoons. I had this trip idea in my head and now I had to go without. So I did what any NON-Mother of the Year would do. I threw a tantrum. Got mad at DS for blowing it for everyone and for being such a bad boy in school.

Now mind you, all the teachers’ notes indicated he wasn’t keeping his hands to himself, wasn’t staying within his “personal space”, wouldn’t stop talking, wouldn’t listen to directions, etc….I’m thinking my little boy is turning into the anti-Christ once he boards the school bus in the morning.

I continued to beg and plead with DH to go to WDW and he kept saying no. Well, can I go by myself? Let me tell you gang…that was the wrong question to ask! Got a big, fat no to that too.

Finally, on the weekend before I wanted to go, he gave in. I went ahead and quickly booked everything - a studio at SSR, 3 round trip plane tickets to/from Kinston and a rental car from Sanford Airport. I got the AAA rate of $133 for Friday to Monday for the rental car, which was a bit cheaper than the lowest price I could find from a town car service anywhere. The lowest I could find was $180, without tip. Ok, so rental car it is.

We decided not to tell DS we were going. Didn’t want him to think that his behavior warranted a vacation, when we were telling him it wasn’t all this time.

I packed in secret, at night after Michael went to bed. Got the “Go Ahead” from my boss to take Friday afternoon and Monday off. Got the usual “You’re going again?!?!” from all my co-workers. But that was mixed in with “You’re going for the weekend??” Yep…we’re going for the weekend. Believe you me, we’ve gotten our money’s worth outta the AP’s so far and even the DVC points, that’s for sure.

We were looking forward to staying in SSR and checking it out. I decided to turn over a new leaf. There was going to be a kinder, gentler me for this trip. No commando style hitting of the parks. No ADR’s for any meals. We were going to wing it. I even had the crazy idea of even going to the parks for a half day and then coming back to the resort and perhaps going in the pool or whatever. Ah yes, a kinder, gentler me. Wonder how long that’ll last?

I even decided to try and not freak out over DS’s escapades in school. He’s 5 for crying out loud and its kindergarten. He’s NOT a bad boy. I know this. The teachers, however, are making it sound like he’s being a bad boy, but what concerns me, is that if you ask DS what he got in trouble for, he doesn’t know. He’s knows he was talking in class, but that’s it. He doesn’t know why he’s “bad”. I arrange a meeting with his teachers…I want to see all of them and find out what’s going on. That’s arranged for the Wednesday after we come back.

Finally the departure date has arrived. I tell Michael that he won’t be taking the van to the after school place today. I will pick him up. I get him on the school bus, beg him to behave and head back into the house to load the suitcases in the truck after the bus leaves.

It’s pure torture going to work. I’m so excited to leave. Luckily the day goes by quickly and before I know it, I’m out the door on my way home to change clothes and get ready to go. DH gets home within 10 minutes of the time we have to leave to pick up Michael from school and then we’re heading straight to the airport from there.

We decide to still not tell him we’re going anywhere. And it’s probably a good thing…when he gets in the car we find out that he only had an “ok” day, which will probably result in a phone call or note home but hey – kinder, gentler me. At this point, I don’t really care. I’m going to my happy place. My Home Away From Home, if you will.

As soon as Michael realizes we’re going in a direction OTHER THAN home, the questions start. Where are we going? I want to go home and get some juice. I promise Michael, after the 4th or 5th time of requesting we go home, that by the end of the day SOMEONE will be saying “Welcome Home” to him. It goes totally over his head…he still has no clue.

When we get to the airport and Michael sees the planes, the questions really start pouring out of his mouth. And then he sees the luggage come out of the back of the truck.

DS - “Why are our suitcases in the car?”
Me – “Because there’s a really nice family who really needs a vacation very badly so we’re going to let them use our suitcases.”
DS – “Why?”
Me – “Because it’s the nice thing to do. Trust me, these people are really very nice and they really need this trip”
DS – “Oh”

We get inside the airport and check in our luggage. The lovely people at Allegiant’s check-in desk giggle at Michael’s persistent questions as to why we’re letting strangers use our suitcases. We go and get in line for security and the questions continue. By now everyone around us is getting a big kick out us.

When you finally get through security at Kinston’s airport, your gate is a small area looking at the tarmac. The place is packed and it’s standing room only by the time we get in there. We’re standing next to this couple who’s seated and Michael starts flipping out when he sees the planes.

DS - “I want to go on a plane. I love going on planes. I wish we were going on a plane today. Why are we waiting here?”
Me – “Well, we want to make sure that the nice family using our suitcases gets on their plane ok.”
DS – “I wish I was going on a vacation”

The couple beside us are cracking up over Michael’s conversations with us and continue smiling and winking at us.

DH says to him “We’re the ones going on a trip, even though you don’t deserve it because you were bad at school.”

With that, Michael bursts into tears and cries that he wants to come with us.

I explain to him that we are ALL going to Disney World for the weekend. Surprise!! It took a few seconds for him to realize what I just said and through his sniffles, Michael asks me to bend down, that he has to tell me something.

I get down on my knees in front of him and he dives, no – lunges at me, throwing his arms around my neck and says “I love you mommy”. With that, I hear sniffles…I look up and the man seated next to us is crying. Too funny.

With that, Michael loses his little mind…announcing to the entire airport that he’s going to Disney World. Again. He will tell everyone that will listen about his last trip and the trip before that. That he knows how to fly a plane. He got to learn that the time he flew.

He tells everyone that will listen, and even those that are trying not to listen, that he wants to go on his favorite roller coaster (BTMRR) and Test Track and see fireworks.

By the time we board, everyone knows Michael’s name and where he’s going. Some wish him well on their way to their seats. He is absolutely beside himself and can’t wait to take off. The plane can’t get going fast enough for him.

I should mention that it was a full size, very nice jet we flew with Allegiant, complete with very comfy leather seats, etc. DH commented that the plane even still had the "new car smell"
"I'M GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!!!"

Finally we’re in the air and still, Michael continues talking. To anyone and everyone. And they couldn’t avoid it, either. The flight crew announces that it’s going to be a very quick flight – maybe 45 minutes in the air total, so please review the menu in your seat pockets and have menu selections ready by the time they come around as they’ll need to serve quickly. Menu selections??

DH and I grab our “flight menus” and open them up. You have to buy your sodas, etc. when you fly Allegiant Air. And guess what? They have “Disney Pricing” too!

See – just in time to get us ready for the REAL Disney Pricing. $2.00 for a can of soda, BUT as I watched people who BOUGHT sodas for $2, they were given the plastic cup with ice and soda in it, not the whole can of soda. So $2 for 4 oz of soda, eh? Rip off yes, but for $29/each way, I can live with it! Funny thing is they also sell souvenirs…beach blankets, Mickey Mouse stuff…

Michael was still very excited and wasn’t calming down yet. You could hear his little voice all throughout the plane. He needs to go potty and on our way to the plane bathrooms (gag), he tells everyone along the aisles that we’re going to Disney World. We’re going on Test Track and BTMR. When back in our seats, there’s a nice couple behind us who said “Michael, so you’re going to Disney, huh?” See….everyone knew his name…that will get more evident later on, too! That one little question was enough to get Michael engaged in a conversation for the rest of the flight with these people who were really, really nice to chat with him as much as they did. The man, who did a GREAT Donald Duck impression, really seemed to have fun with him.

DH, whom I forgot to mention, has a nasty little cold going, somehow tried to sleep on the flight. I tried to keep Michael from ending up on the ceiling of the plane he was so “high” on excitement!

Before we knew it, we got the whole prepare for landing schpiel about raising our tray tables, etc...YAY - we're almost there!

Up next, ok everyone on three….Bye Michael!!!

 

[princessjv]

Great start! Wow, am I 1st? Altough I didn't read the 1st 2, I am heading over to get me a looksy! Sorry to hear that you are home with pain! That really sucks!

Poor little DS! I am not sure how a Kindergartner can be soo naughty and not understand what they did wrong. Do ya think, we are placing too many rules on these little beings without enough good explanation and demonstration of the ways to handle themselves in school? My goodness...they are just 5yold! The little guy already thinks he is naguhty! I hope you get/got some great solutions in your meeting! tell him to hang in there!

 

[Lauralee131]

Great start! Wow, am I 1st? Altough I didn't read the 1st 2, I am heading over to get me a looksy! Sorry to hear that you are home with pain! That really sucks!

Poor little DS! I am not sure how a Kindergartner can be soo naughty and not understand what they did wrong. Do ya think, we are placing too many rules on these little beings without enough good explanation and demonstration of the ways to handle themselves in school? My goodness...they are just 5yold! The little guy already thinks he is naguhty! I hope you get/got some great solutions in your meeting! tell him to hang in there!

Hi there! Nice to have you along!

Oh yes, I totally think that there's way too much pressure put on kindergarteners. He's got a really long day - out the door to catch the school bus a bit after 6:30am and unfortunately both DH and I have to work, so he goes to an afterschool program until 5 and then when we all get home, he still has a bunch of homework every night which we try and do along with the usual cooking dinner, dishes, bath, etc...and his homework usually takes close to an hour to do. By the time he gets to bed it's around 8.

He has to be able to read 50 books, write like 50 words, etc...to "graduate" kindergarten, so there's a whole lot of pressure there. And he doesn't have the greatest attention span in the world, which doesn't help either.

Long story short, and it'll probably come up later, when I had the meeting with his teacher(s), they all said how much they enjoy him, how funny he is, that he's one of the most improved students in their class and really the only complaints I heard were that he talks too much and doesn't want to work real hard in class. BIG DEAL. Here I was thinking that he's running wild in school and it was not that at all. So, I decided to mellow out a bit. We've changed the way we do homework a little. We found that if he does homework AFTER he eats dinner, and not before, that he does better and it gets done a little faster. Not a lot faster, but a little bit...so that's progress.

I just got a phone call this past Thursday from his teacher, warning me ahead of time that he was having a bad day, complaining he was tired, off in space, etc...and yet in gym class, he got into trouble and got a time out and would be bringing a note home for me to sign. Seriously - how can a 5 year old get a time out in gym class??? Aren't they supposed to be up and running around?

So, 2007 will be the year of the kinder, gentler me. No more freaking out about "flipping a card" in class - their behavior system...and I will not tell him that he's BAD in school, because he's not.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!

 

[disney-super-mom]

Ahhhhh, I was wondering when you were going to write this trip report. Great start!

Hope you feel better soon.

WOW, they sure do expect a lot out of kindergarten kids these days! I swear when I went to kindergarten all that was expected of us was to know our ABCs, the 123s, and learn how to tie our own shoes!

I mean C'MON.....AN HOUR OF HOMEWORK FOR A KINDERGARTENER.....THAT'S RIDICULOUS! Poor kid.

 

[scrap4u]

Great start Lauralee! I haven't read your 2 previous reports. I guess I'll have to skip on over and check them out.

Sorry you're home with the toothache. A few years ago I had the same thing happen. Except it was on a tooth they had already done a root canal on a few months prior. They had missed one teeny tiny canal that didn't show up on x-rays and it got infected. It is the worst pain I have ever had in my life. The endodontist said some people say it is worse then labor pains. I don't know as I don't have kids but it was pretty darn bad. Hope you feel better soon!

 

[Lauralee131]

Ahhhhh, I was wondering when you were going to write this trip report. Great start!

Hope you feel better soon.

WOW, they sure do expect a lot out of kindergarten kids these days! I swear when I went to kindergarten all that was expected of us was to know our ABCs, the 123s, and learn how to tie our own shoes!

I mean C'MON.....AN HOUR OF HOMEWORK FOR A KINDERGARTENER.....THAT'S RIDICULOUS! Poor kid.

Hey there! Yep - I'm finally getting started here! I gotta get myself in gear! Especially since you got yours done so fast...you're makin' me look bad!

Well, let's just say it takes him an hour, but maybe other kids don't take so long...we have to read 2 books (minimum) each night, read some words, write the words 5 times, write sentences, do some math skills homework, etc...I don't think it SHOULD take an hour, but it's hard to keep him focused and some days it takes him 20 minutes to write one sentence... He's gotten better...the first half of the school year was really hard...he'd end up crying, etc. over doing homework...it was awful. We get stressed out, etc...it was no good for any of us. He's getting better though. We're all doing the best we can to get it through it though.

Definitely different from our kindergarten days, that's for sure!

 

[Lauralee131]

Great start Lauralee! I haven't read your 2 previous reports. I guess I'll have to skip on over and check them out.

Sorry you're home with the toothache. A few years ago I had the same thing happen. Except it was on a tooth they had already done a root canal on a few months prior. They had missed one teeny tiny canal that didn't show up on x-rays and it got infected. It is the worst pain I have ever had in my life. The endodontist said some people say it is worse then labor pains. I don't know as I don't have kids but it was pretty darn bad. Hope you feel better soon!

Thanks for joining Scrap4u...good to have you along. Thanks for the thoughts...it's pretty bad and that's exactly what it felt like, as strange as it sounds...labor pains. I was begging for an epidural!

Thanks again and aboard!

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

Good thing in my afternoon boredom, I decided to peruse the TR board and *POOF* here you are! Yah!... and it's not 15 pages long, yet!

Poor Michael... all I have to say is Kindergarten sucks. It's all new... new rules, new requirements, new friends, new teachers... new new new. I was a "bad" kid in Kindergarten.... look at me, I turned out fine!

 

[TiggerandTink]

Can't wait to read more, this is starting out good. I like that Michael is so excited and so gregarious! I haven't read your other TRs but it sounds like I need to go find them. Hope you get that tooth taken care of soon.

 

[Lauralee131]

Good thing in my afternoon boredom, I decided to peruse the TR board and *POOF* here you are! Yah!... and it's not 15 pages long, yet!

Ah...I just sent you the link here and looky looky - you've already found it!

Poor Michael... all I have to say is Kindergarten sucks. It's all new... new rules, new requirements, new friends, new teachers... new new new.

Yep...kindergarten is not what it used to be....

I was a "bad" kid in Kindergarten.... look at me, I turned out fine!

 

[Lauralee131]

Can't wait to read more, this is starting out good. I like that Michael is so excited and so gregarious! I haven't read your other TRs but it sounds like I need to go find them. Hope you get that tooth taken care of soon.

Thanks! Nice to have you along for the ride, even though this one is a short one!!

 

[PrincessV]

I'm here, I'm here! Great start Lauralee I loved Michael's reaction to your surprise... precious!

A little something I noticed in my fever-induced state: $1 for a package of Crystal Light on Allelgiant Air?! AND the "water is sold seperately"!

Don't even get me started on the new and "improved" education system... Just remember, it could be worse: you could be stuck in Florida's school system!

 

[Lauralee131]

I'm here, I'm here! Great start Lauralee I loved Michael's reaction to your surprise... precious!

A little something I noticed in my fever-induced state: $1 for a package of Crystal Light on Allelgiant Air?! AND the "water is sold seperately"!

Don't even get me started on the new and "improved" education system... Just remember, it could be worse: you could be stuck in Florida's school system!

Yep - $$ - I should put in a picture of the snacks/souveniers too -
CA-CHING!! The people in the seats across the aisle from us were laughing at me taking pictures of the "menu"...all I did was mutter my usual "This is going in my report"...then they stared at me wondering who the heck I was for the rest of the flight!

 

[DisneyJo]

Lauralee great start I'm laughing my head off already.

and his homework usually takes close to an hour to do. By the time he gets to bed it's around 8.

Kindergarten is age 4-5 right? Our kids just play all day for the first year of school (we call it reception) they have to read a little too but it's not encouraged! Jessica is 10 and in year 6 and she only gets about 2 hours of homework a week, now which is best US or UK education. I think our government says yours and yours says ours.

Right back to your hilarious Tr and hope your tooth is better soon.

 

[princessjv]

Come Back...I thought this was a quicky... I'm waiting! You can't just hook us and leave us there to rot...or can you!?!

 

[tinawv]

I can't believe how much they expect out of kindergartners these days. The stuff they are required to do now, I didn't do until 2nd or 3rd grade in school (am I giving away my age?). Oh, by the way your son is absolutely adorable. Can't wait to read more.

 

[disney-super-mom]

.........hey, where'd ya go? Alright.....alright.....I'll just keep waiting for the rest.

 

[Lauralee131]

As we get up to walk off the plane, the passengers and crew all smiled and waived at Michael, wishing him a wonderful time at Walt Disney World. Donald Duck promised to look for him in the Magic Kingdom… I must say that traveling with Michael makes me think of the old Bill Cosby routine in “Himself”, with little Jeffrey. Even though Michael’s not a screamer, like little Jeffrey was, but everyone on the plane knew his name and I’m sure there were more than a few travelers who were more than just a little tired of hearing his little voice chatter on and on.

We landed in Sanford around 5:30-ish and are immediately surprised. Nice, clean airport, but even better than that? It was virtually empty with the exception of the plane full of people we just arrived with!

We very easily obtained our luggage in no time flat and headed to the rental car area where, lucky for us, the Hertz desk was empty! That was where our fast, easy journey took a slight detour….

As I walked up to the desk, a very unhappy looking woman walked up just before me. She was here a few minutes ago and rented a car, she explained, and now has decided she doesn’t want to rent the car. She wants her money back. The two very lovely, helpful clerks behind the counter can’t give her a credit without a manager, who’s off site at the moment. The woman won’t leave the rental car desk without speaking to SOMEONE who knows SOMETHING and parks her fanny dead center of the desk. And stays there.

Can I help you maa’m? Why yes you can!!! And I shimmy around the lady who’s still standing in the dead center of the desk. I have a reservation for Lauralee131 please! Ah yes, I can see it right here. Did you know that you can upgrade for only a few dollars a day more? Really? Well, I really don’t think I’ll need more than what I’ve got though. But it’s only a few dollars a day more! I appreciate it, really I do, but I’d just like to take what I’ve reserved and get on the road. Thanks a lot though. So, after I finally convince them that I don’t need a freakin’ Suburban for the 3 of us and our 3 suitcases, for only a few dollars a day more, they ring me up.

Ok, Lauralee131, we have a Pontiac Vibe for you for $200 for the 4 days. Um, I’m sorry…baking powder? What did you say? No, dear, that’s not right. My confirmation, right here in my hand, says that my rate is $127.99 for the 4 days, including the car seat. Oh, goodness, I’m sorry, we forgot about the car seat. That’s $10 per day. WHAT?!?! Exqueeze me?? So, after I finally convince them to give me the mid-sized car at the price shown on my reservation confirmation, with the free booster seat rental (thank you AAA), they disappear into the “back room” to get my keys.

Both of them. Odd, eh? The lady at the dead center of the desk is now seated in the dead center of the floor, waiting for the manager.

They come back and guess what, Houston? We have yet another problem. Maa’m. The car we rented you is not here. Well, where is it? We don’t know.

Must’ve been rented out. Are you kidding me? No. But it was our last mid-size vehicle, maam. Now I’m getting PISSED. Well, ladies, I don’t know what to tell ya’s. Either you give me A car at THE SAME price I just paid or I’m taking my business over to THAT company right over there. So they huddle up and whisper amongst themselves. They frantically search through their collection of keys. They disappear into the back. Together.

Again.

They come back.

Together.

Yep. Again.

I am reminded of the old Seinfeld episode and lost myself momentarily in it’s dialogue... You know how to TAKE the reservation…

Guess what, Lauralee131? We found your car. It was getting an oil change. We’re just going to clean it up for you and we’ll have you on your way.

Good. Thanks. I look at the clock on the wall. It’s now 6:15. I’ve been here for nearly 40 minutes. Are you kidding me with this?

Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum come back. Again. Together. Smiling. They’re glad they could serve me today. Do I need any maps? No thanks. I’ll just wait for my car. Ok, it should be here in just a minute.

With this, in walks this “mystery couple” who proceed directly to the desk and inform the Tweedles that they saw a Pontiac Vibe in the parking lot and really want to rent THAT car instead of the car they were just given.

The Tweedles, who must’ve forgotten this last 45 minutes of their day, nearly rent out my car. Again. Dopes.

Finally, and I do mean finally, the Cheshire Cat appears with keys and tag that says Pontiac Vibe. Ok, Lauralee131…you’re on your way. Thank you for your patience, have a lovely stay in the Sunshine State.

Is the booster seat already in it?

The Tweedles look at each other, open their eyes real wide and guess what they do next? Yep, they disappear. Into the back.

Again.

Together.

They return a few minutes later. Um…maam? Yes, I hissed at them, what is it?

We seem to be out of car seats. I’m sorry.

Oh…..my……God……

ARE YOU GUYS KIDDING ME WITH THIS?? IS THERE A CAMERA HIDDEN SOMEHWERE IN HERE???

I had a flippie fit somewhere along a 5 on a scale of 1 to 10 and tried to explain to these 2 that before I smash their pretty little heads together, they need to do something to get me a booster seat. You see, I had a reservation. I RESERVED a booster seat. And a freakin’ mid-sized car. TOGETHER!!

Finally, the Tweedles pull up their big girl panties and tell me that this happens occasionally and they can just borrow from Avis and I’ll be on my way in no time. Funny, I was just thinking that I should have gone to Avis in the first place!

Someone brings me my booster seat and I am wished well. It is now 6:40….GRRRRRR…DH and I had big plans…we were going to head to Epcot tonight. Wonder if we can still make it over there. We haven’t even eaten yet. We haven’t checked in yet. I can’t believe we wasted so much time at the car rental counter? How can that happen? Did it even happen at all? How surreal??

So finally we were on the road. We decided to stop at a store and grab some Diet Coke (to mix with my good traveling buddy Jack) and some OJ for Michael. We collect our thoughts for a few minutes, decided to bag out on trying to catch Epcot, but decide we’ll hit Red Lobster for dinner. At least we’ll have a decent dinner in our bellies. I love their Lobster Pizza. Anyone?? Yumm….it’s a party in my mouth. Can’t get enough of it. And nope, it’s not part of the Weight Watchers Core Plan that I’m on, but – lucky for me – Weight Watchers doesn’t exist in my happy place, nor along the outskirts of it! Lobster Pizza and a couple of cocktails and all was right with momma’s world again!!!

For those of you that haven’t tried flying in and out of Sanford, it really wasn’t a bad drive…25 minutes…maybe?? To WDW. Easy in and easy out. With the exception of the rental car snafu that is. I’d fly it again and plan on doing it in August.

Sorry gang, for a “Picture-less” installment, but I’m glad I at least got to post SOMETHING…

Up next, fat and happy, we arrive at our “Home Away From Home”!!!!

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

I must say that traveling with Michael makes me think of the old Bill Cosby routine in “Himself”, with little Jeffrey. Even though Michael’s not a screamer, like little Jeffrey was, but everyone on the plane knew his name and I’m sure there were more than a few travelers who were more than just a little tired of hearing his little voice chatter on and on.

Jeffery, Jeffery, Jeffery.....

As I walked up to the desk, a very unhappy looking woman walked up just before me. She was here a few minutes ago and rented a car, she explained, and now has decided she doesn’t want to rent the car. She wants her money back.

Ok, that should have been a sign.

Must’ve been rented out. Are you kidding me? No. But it was our last mid-size vehicle, maam. Now I’m getting PISSED.

Go to your happy place, Lauralee....go now!

I am reminded of the old Seinfeld episode and lost myself momentarily in it’s dialogue... You know how to TAKE the reservation

I don't think you do... anyone can take a RESERVATION!

So finally we were on the road. We decided to stop at a store and grab some Diet Coke (to mix with my good traveling buddy Jack)

Now will Jack be a traveling companion in August?

Lobster Pizza and a couple of cocktails and all was right with momma’s world again!!!

Ah ha! The happy place!

Sounds like an interesting start... Let's see the pixie dust fly, baby!

 

[disney-super-mom]

THAT was worth waiting for!!!

Now I'm going to change MY "big girl panties" because I think I peeeeeeed myself laughing so hard!