We interrupt the regularly scheduled trip report programming
to bring a little sadness, and a little fun.
First the sadness.
It's been a rough go in the TK household lately. On a lot of levels. We're all healthy, there's a roof over our heads, and financially (surprisingly enough in this economy) we're doing okay.
The rough go has been with me.
It's personal. And it's tough.
And I'm just not happy.
I'm grateful for what I have, and I'm trying to remember the positives in every day. And to enjoy life for what I have, not what I don't. But it's hard, and it has most certainly tested my faith.
I've said it on ZZUB's trip report and I'll say it here.
For the past few weeks, really since I got back from vacation, I've been wondering, why God? Or, what next, God? And, why God again? And I'm trying to remember all the times that God has seen me through. When I was a teenager and had so many self-doubts. In college as I found myself through my art. When He helped me find the love of my life. When DH and I finally got pregnant, only to have a scare so early on. I remember praying so much then. Praying for that little boy that I didn't even know was a boy, just knew was my baby. Not even as big as peanut. My little peanut. He'll be four soon. How the time flies.
And how God has seen us through, even when I didn't think or realize that He was there.
It just feels like we're going through a spectacularly rough patch. And just as I thought things were starting to fall into place, and it seemed as though some doors were opening, it was all taken away.
My options. My choices.
At least, that's what it felt like. And I still do have some choices. Don't we always? And I'm just trying to make the right ones. For my family.
But mostly for me.
Because there's been a sad lack of focus on me and my happiness lately. And that's nobody's fault but my own. So I'm trying to take back my choices. And take back my power to make myself happy. And it's not easy. Not when you have other people to consider, other people to be responsible for. My DH. My little peanut.
If you've read any of my pre-trip report or this, you know how much I love and would do anything for my family. Even if it is slowly draining me. There has to be a better way, and I'm working on making things happen. If I've been trucking along for this long, certainly it's bound to get better. Certainly my faith can see me through.
And if you're at all of the praying sort, and feel even the slightest inclination, I certainly wouldn't mind if you thought of me.
Just the fact that you're here and reading means that you do think of me, even in some small way.
And that, my friends, means a lot. Because as I try to wade through this mess, I do remember that there are people who think of me. Who cheer for me, who are in my corner. Who wanted this trip for me, probably as much as I wanted it for myself. And I am so grateful for the memories from my trip. Grateful that I was able to afford the Wilderness Lodge, grateful for everything we saw and did, and grateful for that small bit of time to just be us. To be our family. A pirate's life for three. It's those memories that get me through these days. Remembering that happiness helps.
And speaking of happiness, we'll now bring on the fun.
Except it's not from this trip report.
And you're just going to have to wait a little bit longer to find out how many cast members...
Because I promised a little something to a certain Mrs. The King.
So here it is...
from the as yet unpublished
TK Trip Reports - Volume One.
A flashback-
One of the Best Character Dining Experiences Ever
This dining experience is brought to you from a trip we took to the World in January of 2003. DH and I were married, but no nugget on the horizon. We went to the World with my parents, and all stayed at the Yacht Club, most likely on our annual passholder discount. Ah, the days when I renewed my annual pass and went to the World no less than two-three times a year. How I reflect upon them fondly.
I just want to give you a little background before we get to the meat of this story. It is RARE that my father goes to the World. Let's just say it's not his cup of tea, but he's willing to go every now and again because it's fun to have a family trip, and he makes me and mom happy. My DH? He's just happy wherever he is.
I can't begin to describe how absolutely perfect this trip was.
We never fought.
Not once.
We walked onto rides, walked up to characters. There were no lines. I don't even think truthfully there were ADRs. Well maybe one. Other than that, we were flying by the seat of our pants. Happy to do so. Before the inception of many marketing tools that make that almost virtually impossible.
Ah, Disney in January.
How I love thee.
So, suffice it to say, this was shaping up to be an AWESOME trip.
I was happy to be there. Happy to have my dad there. Enjoying some quality time with him was fantastic. And on our last day, we all decided to have breakfast at Cape May Cafe.
Now, it started off normally enough. We made our way to the buffet, noshed on the yummy food, and saw all the characters in due course. We were visited by Chip, Dale, Goofy, and Minnie. They looked adorable in their bathing suits, let me tell you. I asked Minnie if she was going swimming, and she told me no, she planned to lounge on the beach and read.
Yes, I speak character.
It all seems innocent enough, right? But remember, this is January, and the restaurant wasn't that busy. Put two and two together, and maybe you'll figure out that the characters had a little time on their hands. Paws. You get the idea.
You're all familiar with the antics of Chip and Dale, right? Fun lovin' duo of the chipmunk variety who love to have a good time?
I'm not sure who started it.
Well, if we're being honest, most likely, my husband. I don't remember what he said to Chip. I don't remember how exactly it started. I just remember that Chip...and DH...decided they were going to have some fun.
So after whatever DH had said, he left and went to get some more food. Chip came back, and seeing DH missing, decided it was time to have a little fun.
So he took all the crayons (yes we were coloring kiddie menus, and?), lemon wedges, and sugar packets, and dumped them all over DH's place. So that mess would just be waiting for him when he got back to his seat.
And then Chip proceeded to get scared, and hide behind my chair, peeking out to look for DH, and holding my hand.
If Chip thought he was safe...
well, let's just say my DH is creative. Crafty. Almost diabolical, if you will.
And he saw Chip hiding behind me, and saw the mess, and knew that little chipmunk was up to no good. And as Chip stood up, to give DH a hard time, and they were "talking," my DH did something that I will never forget for the rest of my life.
See the swimsuit Chip had on was a separate piece of clothing, savvy?
So my DH took all the crayons, and the lemons, and the sugar packets, and dumped them all down the front inside of Chip's swimsuit.
Yup. You read that right. At first, I was mortified.
And then, I was hysterical, as were my parents. There may have even been some snort-laughing involved as poor Chip proceeded to look embarrassed, putting one paw up to his face in shame. He then started (and this is where I really lost it) to jump up and down to get the crayon/lemon/sugar mixture out of his swimsuit.
And it all fell out on the floor.
That was one of the best character interactions ever.
What we later discovered was that another CM, in plain clothes, had been filming the whole thing for "training" purposes. We gave him our name and address, but we've never seen a copy of that film.
We have long joked about how they show that to poor unsuspecting characters as an example of how to handle unruly guests. My DH. Who can always, always make me laugh. One of the reasons I married him, folks. You have to appreciate a man who can make you laugh when you're at your worst.
It doesn't hurt that he bears resemblance to a certain pirate, either.
I still look, to this day, for a copy of that video on the internet. Most likely, it is locked in a vault somewhere. But the memory lives on.
Things will start looking up, I can just feel it! 
