After all the excitement of getting back and getting back on a normal schedule, I realized I had a few loose ends.
First of all, Greg stayed home from work yesterday. He was still tired and we had gotten home so late. I made him a doctor's appointment for today (mostly because he needed prescription refills). Come to find out, he has some type of infection in his lungs, probably bacterial pneumonia. Had to have a chest x-ray, and now they want him to do a CT with contrast. They referred him to Dr. Hajjar, who was my mom's pulmonary specialist. I'll call and get everything set up, it's what I do.
Secondly, on Saturday, Kaitlyn did an update on her iPad. Normally, that's not a problem, but she forgot her passcode and got herself locked out of the iPad. I tried resetting it all morning, but couldn't get it to work. Told her to take to the Apple store on Monday. Well, she was too busy for that. I ended up picking it up today and getting it fixed. Also, was reminded why I don't take directions from Kaitlyn.
Finally, I have to go back to work tomorrow. I'm not happy about it, but oh well. I've been to the office and seen the colossal amount of work that awaits me. BLECH.
Hope everyone enjoyed these little reports. They were (mostly) fun to write.
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Monday, October 19, 2015
Disney & The Beach -Days 8 & 9, October 17 & 18, 2015
So, it's nearly over...
Saturday was our last day at the beach. I was tired, having been woken up another 5 gazillion times throughout the night, so I decided I would hang close to the room, doing whatever it is I do. Kaitlyn was bound and determined to come home tanned, so she spent the day at the pool. Normally, this is a good thing, but she didn't stay hydrated and was drinking. She got very sick at one point, nearly passing out. Cold compress to the head, a bottle of water and a nice nap and she was all better. She wanted to go lay out some more, but was helped to decide that wasn't the best option.
I did walk down to Walgreen's to get water and beer. Made mimosas with moscato instead of champagne for Kaitlyn. I was going to drink some, but forgot. I just wasn't really in the mood. It's not a long walk to Walgreen's but it felt like miles walking back with 2 6-packs of water and 2 18-packs of Bud Light. I had asked Greg if he wanted to go and he said he did. I waited an hour for him to get ready and he never did. Then he had the audacity to get pissed when I said I'd go alone. Seriously??? When I asked him, I was ready to leave. I waited 60 minutes for him to get ready...and HE's pissed???
Can you tell this vacation contained a lot of bickering? Mostly over what I wanted vs. what Greg felt like doing. He is the easiest and the most difficult of traveling companions. Not willing to offer an opinion of activities but annoyed when I don't magically pull his desires out of the hat. Whatever, it's done.
We got the big suitcases in the car Saturday night. I went to bed last (yeah I am the driver) and didn't sleep well.
Sunday morning, my alarm went off at 5:15. I set it early so I could hit the snooze a few times. Apparently, Greg doesn't understand the snooze button and as soon as he heard my alarm, he started banging crap around in the kitchen. ARGH. So up I got, to get dressed, finish packing and loaded the car. I woke up the girl about 15 minutes prior to departure. She loaded her stuff and off we went. Stopped a bit before Ocala to get breakfast at McD's. And motored on.
The drive was mostly uneventful. I was having issues with sleepiness (probably because I hadn't had a good night's sleep most of the week). So we stopped about every hour or so. Traffic around Atlanta was snarled in a few places, mostly because there are SOOO many cars and sooo many stupid drivers. Same thing goes for Chattanooga. It took a little longer than anticipated to get home, but we dropped Kaitlyn off at her house and came home.
Nick had installed a Nest Thermostat yesterday (all by himself, I'm so proud!). We chatted with him for a while, the dog attacked me. I sorted through the mail and then went to bed.
Luckily, I'm off for the next 2 days, so I can get everything unloaded and put away. I have my laundry from before we left to do, phone calls to make, errands to run.
Anyway, it's been fun! Hope you enjoyed reading!
Saturday was our last day at the beach. I was tired, having been woken up another 5 gazillion times throughout the night, so I decided I would hang close to the room, doing whatever it is I do. Kaitlyn was bound and determined to come home tanned, so she spent the day at the pool. Normally, this is a good thing, but she didn't stay hydrated and was drinking. She got very sick at one point, nearly passing out. Cold compress to the head, a bottle of water and a nice nap and she was all better. She wanted to go lay out some more, but was helped to decide that wasn't the best option.
I did walk down to Walgreen's to get water and beer. Made mimosas with moscato instead of champagne for Kaitlyn. I was going to drink some, but forgot. I just wasn't really in the mood. It's not a long walk to Walgreen's but it felt like miles walking back with 2 6-packs of water and 2 18-packs of Bud Light. I had asked Greg if he wanted to go and he said he did. I waited an hour for him to get ready and he never did. Then he had the audacity to get pissed when I said I'd go alone. Seriously??? When I asked him, I was ready to leave. I waited 60 minutes for him to get ready...and HE's pissed???
Can you tell this vacation contained a lot of bickering? Mostly over what I wanted vs. what Greg felt like doing. He is the easiest and the most difficult of traveling companions. Not willing to offer an opinion of activities but annoyed when I don't magically pull his desires out of the hat. Whatever, it's done.
We got the big suitcases in the car Saturday night. I went to bed last (yeah I am the driver) and didn't sleep well.
Sunday morning, my alarm went off at 5:15. I set it early so I could hit the snooze a few times. Apparently, Greg doesn't understand the snooze button and as soon as he heard my alarm, he started banging crap around in the kitchen. ARGH. So up I got, to get dressed, finish packing and loaded the car. I woke up the girl about 15 minutes prior to departure. She loaded her stuff and off we went. Stopped a bit before Ocala to get breakfast at McD's. And motored on.
The drive was mostly uneventful. I was having issues with sleepiness (probably because I hadn't had a good night's sleep most of the week). So we stopped about every hour or so. Traffic around Atlanta was snarled in a few places, mostly because there are SOOO many cars and sooo many stupid drivers. Same thing goes for Chattanooga. It took a little longer than anticipated to get home, but we dropped Kaitlyn off at her house and came home.
Nick had installed a Nest Thermostat yesterday (all by himself, I'm so proud!). We chatted with him for a while, the dog attacked me. I sorted through the mail and then went to bed.
Luckily, I'm off for the next 2 days, so I can get everything unloaded and put away. I have my laundry from before we left to do, phone calls to make, errands to run.
Anyway, it's been fun! Hope you enjoyed reading!
Saturday, October 17, 2015
Disney & The Beach - Day 7, October 16, 2015
So, Friday was a normal day. Really nothing spectacular happened. We got up at varying times, ate breakfast. Around noon, Kaitlyn and I went to the pool. Greg did his thing (which involved the balcony, the pool and the beach). Kaitlyn has gotten addicted to "Gold Rush" and watched the marathon on whatever channel it is on all day. Lunch was leftovers from Feola's (and they are just as good reheated).
Here in Treasure Island, they have a beach path...it is a concrete walkway that runs about a mile along the dunes. Kaitlyn and I walked the north half and saw some kitschy, cute Old Florida style motels. We also found monkey bars. Now, I'm smart enough to know that I would hurt myself if I tried to do anything on them, but apparently, Kaitlyn could not follow my cautious example. She walked up to them and grabbed the bars (Understand that these were barely over her head...very short monkey bars). She started to do the bars and wham, bam, thank you ma'am, she slammed her fingers right into the bar mid-first swing. I was laughing so hard, I could barely ask her if she was OK. (She was). See, Momma does know best!
After we walked the northern half, we went across the street to do some souvenir shopping. Came back, lounged some more, made Sunset Margaritas. We had dinner at Waffle House. Kaitlyn watched the season premier of "Gold Rush" and I watched this week's episode of "Nashville". Greg went to bed early.
And this brings me to another conclusion: We've been married for 30 years. We have *GASP* slept in separate beds for most of those 30 years. I can tell you now, if we had to sleep in the same bed/room every night, I'd kill him or divorce him. He snores (well, I do too, apparently), he coughs (yeah I've heard I do that too), he is up and down out of bed like a jack-in-the-box, I think he woke me up 5 million times last night. I have not gotten a good night's sleep since Tuesday. I cannot wait to be home in my own bed tomorrow night.
Plan for today? Laundry (because there is a w/d in the condo), walking the other half of the beach walk...drinking the remainder of the wine and hard cider (the tequila is gone, so no more sunset margaritas), packing and loading the car. We are leaving very early tomorrow morning in order to get home at a decent hour tomorrow night.
I hope everyone has a great Saturday! I will probably post one more tomorrow night after we get home!
Bye!
Here in Treasure Island, they have a beach path...it is a concrete walkway that runs about a mile along the dunes. Kaitlyn and I walked the north half and saw some kitschy, cute Old Florida style motels. We also found monkey bars. Now, I'm smart enough to know that I would hurt myself if I tried to do anything on them, but apparently, Kaitlyn could not follow my cautious example. She walked up to them and grabbed the bars (Understand that these were barely over her head...very short monkey bars). She started to do the bars and wham, bam, thank you ma'am, she slammed her fingers right into the bar mid-first swing. I was laughing so hard, I could barely ask her if she was OK. (She was). See, Momma does know best!
After we walked the northern half, we went across the street to do some souvenir shopping. Came back, lounged some more, made Sunset Margaritas. We had dinner at Waffle House. Kaitlyn watched the season premier of "Gold Rush" and I watched this week's episode of "Nashville". Greg went to bed early.
And this brings me to another conclusion: We've been married for 30 years. We have *GASP* slept in separate beds for most of those 30 years. I can tell you now, if we had to sleep in the same bed/room every night, I'd kill him or divorce him. He snores (well, I do too, apparently), he coughs (yeah I've heard I do that too), he is up and down out of bed like a jack-in-the-box, I think he woke me up 5 million times last night. I have not gotten a good night's sleep since Tuesday. I cannot wait to be home in my own bed tomorrow night.
Plan for today? Laundry (because there is a w/d in the condo), walking the other half of the beach walk...drinking the remainder of the wine and hard cider (the tequila is gone, so no more sunset margaritas), packing and loading the car. We are leaving very early tomorrow morning in order to get home at a decent hour tomorrow night.
I hope everyone has a great Saturday! I will probably post one more tomorrow night after we get home!
Bye!
Friday, October 16, 2015
Disney & The Beach - Day 6, October 15, 2015
First, let me apologize to Kaitlyn. In my last post, I implied that I was the only one who loaded/unloaded the car. Kaitlyn did help with both and I may have exaggerated my role just a bit, for dramatic effect. She has been an awesome travel companion who has the tough job of buffer. Sorry, Princess. Your help has not gone unnoticed.
Yesterday dawned clear and mild. As is my wont, I got up early and sat on the balcony, drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes (yes, it is a nasty habit that I will give up at some point). Although I am not a beach person, per se, I could live like this...working from the balcony on a beautiful morning. I need to win the lottery so I can sit here, write and watch the people on the beach path. Very entertaining.
I walked down to Walgreen's for a few things, stopped at McD's and picked up breakfast. Then came back to the condo. We lounged around for a while. Kaitlyn wanted to go get a pedicure, so we walked across the street. She had found a place through Google Maps that had good reviews and was really close to our condo. She was not disappointed. Her toes look spectacular and she was happy! I think it's called Island Nails. The outside is a little disreputable looking, but inside, while a little worn, the facilities were clean and well maintained. As it was a Thursday morning, there was no wait and the technician quickly got to work. They were efficient, skilled and inexpensive. If you're ever in this area and find yourself in need of a mani/pedi, I definitely recommend them.
After that, I went for a walk to the Gulf. And if you've seen my photos, it is definitely a bit of a hike. But the water was clear and I saw several schools of fish in the surf. I never go in the ocean, too many creatures, but people were enjoying themselves! After I came back, I went to the pool with Kaitlyn, while Greg did his own thing (no idea what he does, but if it makes him happy, I don't care). Kait spent most of the afternoon by the pool and I wandered around, as I get very bored just sitting by the pool. I also don't tan, so it's kind of a moot point. When she was done, we went for a walk to the shore!
We came back in and started a marathon 500 Rummy Tournament. I taught Kaitlyn to play at a young age, just as my mom and grandma had taught me. It's a great way to pass the time. The first two rounds were split, with the 3rd waiting until after dinner.
There was a bit of excitement on the beach, but I'm not exactly sure what happened. I heard sirens and there were 4 emergency vehicles on the beach. I tried to take photos, but could never get a clear shot of the action. I think someone either got stabbed by a Stingray (apparently, they love the warm waters of the Gulf from April through October) or someone drowned. I never saw anything on the beach, but it was interesting to watch.
I made Sunset Margaritas again, we watched the sun sink into the Gulf (which is always spectacular...much better than the sunrises on the other side). Greg had been searching for a restaurant on his iPad and decided he wanted Italian for dinner.
We walked up to Feola's Italian Bistro and Bar at the Thunderbird Resort Motel. It didn't seem like much, but we could eat outside in the courtyard of the Motel. The food was fresh, handmade, and large portions. I got Baked Cheese Ravioli, Greg got the same, but with meat sauce, and Kait got Baked Ziti. The salads were basic, they serve large garlic rolls with dinner. Our server was a little scattered and forgot our appetizer (Garlic Knots), so she comped us our beers. $44 plus tip...not too bad for dinner for 3.
We walked back on the Beach Path. It is a wide, winding path that runs along the beach here in Treasure Island. I'm not sure how far up or down it goes, I think we will be investigating it today.
After we got back, we finished off the margaritas and played our tie-breaking game of 500. After a very poor start, going negative the first 3 hands, I rallied and won the tournament. Kaitlyn is vowing a rematch this evening!
All in all, it was a wonderful, restful, peaceful day at the beach. We have been blessed with awesome weather and it is forecast to continue through our departure on Sunday.
Stay warm my friends! I know I will.
Yesterday dawned clear and mild. As is my wont, I got up early and sat on the balcony, drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes (yes, it is a nasty habit that I will give up at some point). Although I am not a beach person, per se, I could live like this...working from the balcony on a beautiful morning. I need to win the lottery so I can sit here, write and watch the people on the beach path. Very entertaining.
I walked down to Walgreen's for a few things, stopped at McD's and picked up breakfast. Then came back to the condo. We lounged around for a while. Kaitlyn wanted to go get a pedicure, so we walked across the street. She had found a place through Google Maps that had good reviews and was really close to our condo. She was not disappointed. Her toes look spectacular and she was happy! I think it's called Island Nails. The outside is a little disreputable looking, but inside, while a little worn, the facilities were clean and well maintained. As it was a Thursday morning, there was no wait and the technician quickly got to work. They were efficient, skilled and inexpensive. If you're ever in this area and find yourself in need of a mani/pedi, I definitely recommend them.
After that, I went for a walk to the Gulf. And if you've seen my photos, it is definitely a bit of a hike. But the water was clear and I saw several schools of fish in the surf. I never go in the ocean, too many creatures, but people were enjoying themselves! After I came back, I went to the pool with Kaitlyn, while Greg did his own thing (no idea what he does, but if it makes him happy, I don't care). Kait spent most of the afternoon by the pool and I wandered around, as I get very bored just sitting by the pool. I also don't tan, so it's kind of a moot point. When she was done, we went for a walk to the shore!
We came back in and started a marathon 500 Rummy Tournament. I taught Kaitlyn to play at a young age, just as my mom and grandma had taught me. It's a great way to pass the time. The first two rounds were split, with the 3rd waiting until after dinner.
There was a bit of excitement on the beach, but I'm not exactly sure what happened. I heard sirens and there were 4 emergency vehicles on the beach. I tried to take photos, but could never get a clear shot of the action. I think someone either got stabbed by a Stingray (apparently, they love the warm waters of the Gulf from April through October) or someone drowned. I never saw anything on the beach, but it was interesting to watch.
I made Sunset Margaritas again, we watched the sun sink into the Gulf (which is always spectacular...much better than the sunrises on the other side). Greg had been searching for a restaurant on his iPad and decided he wanted Italian for dinner.
We walked up to Feola's Italian Bistro and Bar at the Thunderbird Resort Motel. It didn't seem like much, but we could eat outside in the courtyard of the Motel. The food was fresh, handmade, and large portions. I got Baked Cheese Ravioli, Greg got the same, but with meat sauce, and Kait got Baked Ziti. The salads were basic, they serve large garlic rolls with dinner. Our server was a little scattered and forgot our appetizer (Garlic Knots), so she comped us our beers. $44 plus tip...not too bad for dinner for 3.
We walked back on the Beach Path. It is a wide, winding path that runs along the beach here in Treasure Island. I'm not sure how far up or down it goes, I think we will be investigating it today.
After we got back, we finished off the margaritas and played our tie-breaking game of 500. After a very poor start, going negative the first 3 hands, I rallied and won the tournament. Kaitlyn is vowing a rematch this evening!
All in all, it was a wonderful, restful, peaceful day at the beach. We have been blessed with awesome weather and it is forecast to continue through our departure on Sunday.
Stay warm my friends! I know I will.
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Disney & The Beach - Day 5, October 14, 2015
This is the saddest day of the week for me. It was the day we left FW and traveled to Treasure Island to begin the Beach portion of our trip. I never want to leave Disney (which many of you do not understand). But unfortunately, Greg and Kait want to see the water...
Nothing spectacular about the load up, the check out or even the drive across. We left FW around 11 AM and arrived at our Condo Hotel around 1. Traffic was not bad, the weather was perfect. The night before, we had discussed stopping to eat breakfast, but no one mentioned it, so I never stopped. By the time we got to the condo, everyone was cranky! And I do mean CRANKY.
After check in, we loaded our first trolley up and proceeded to the room. Of course, some people just had to complain about it being on the 6th floor (which is the top floor at our hotel). I personally think that a) the view is spectacular from here and b) there is no one above us to disturb us. Whatever...the room and view are wonderful. After we got to the room, I unloaded the trolley and then wanted to go get the next load. You would have thought I was asking for the moon. Someone just wanted to sit on his ass and do nothing. He could not understand WHY I wanted to go get the rest of the stuff right away. My philosophy is: Get it all unloaded right away so we can get it all put away and relax. I got told several times today that I am crazy.
After we got done unloading, I guess the hunger/low blood sugar/assholishness was at its highest. No one could decide what they wanted to eat. Finally we went to the front desk to ask for recommendations. The place the clerk recommended was about 3 miles up the road...we drove up there and the only parking was public parking that cost $5. Yeah, no. So we came back down towards the hotel to try another restaurant. Pulled into a parking lot that was marked for valet parking, tried a parking lot across the street, but there was a sign that said you would be towed. So I moved to a parking space behind the valet. Someone kept being snide and nasty...and BOOM! The vacation super meltdown happened. I must admit that I am the one who melts down when I begin to feel overwhelmed and under appreciated. And so it was today. Suffice it to say, keys were thrown, storming off ensued. I stalked off and walked all the way back to our hotel. It was an OK walk, not too far. Apparently, they didn't really figure out where I had gone. Kait went into the restaurant and asked if I had come in there...she texted me.
I was so upset. And it really is silly. I cater to everyone else's needs throughout vacation and when they act like asses, it hurts my feelings and makes me angry. Let's see...I packed everything, loaded the car, unpacked everything at FW, cooked breakfast (which I didn't mind), made sure everyone had food and was happy. Repacked everything, reloaded the car, double-, triple-checked to make sure we hadn't left anything and unloaded the car when we got to the beach (mostly by myself). So, when I get tired and cranky, calling me crazy and being snide doesn't really bode well. So, yes, the meltdown occurs every single trip without fail. I want say a special THANKS to Robin! She took time out of her busy work day to listen to me rant and rave. She gave me just the right amount of sympathy and reality to help me get over the meltdown! Of course, it helps that she is married to a high-strung person just like me! She has the experience to "talk us down"!!!
The two who got left behind figured it out though! They found a restaurant close to where I had parked, went in and got carryout...even brought me a sandwich. I took a nap, went to the store(s)...had to get alcohol and bug itch medicine. We had a pleasant evening in the room, I made Mango margaritas with Cuervo 1800 Coconut Tequila. I love rooms with blenders. Greg went to bed fairly early, Kait and I stayed up and talked for a while. The bed is comfy...the room is fine. Everything should be back to normal now.
The only complaint I have about our resort is the parking (or lack thereof). If you don't already know, I drive a GMC Yukon XL (lately only for doggie transport and vacation). It is a BIG HONKIN' SUV. The parking for our condo is under the building, which is great; however, my truck DOES NOT fit in the space allotted. To get in, you need the space behind to be empty so you can back into it and pull forward. To leave, the space needs to be empty again. Not happening. I am now parked in the front of the hotel, with permission of the manager. Let me just state that the staff here is friendly, efficient and AWESOME.
Off to watch the sunrise...well, not really...but watching it lighten up over the Gulf.
(By the way, we are staying at the Surf Beach Resort)
Nothing spectacular about the load up, the check out or even the drive across. We left FW around 11 AM and arrived at our Condo Hotel around 1. Traffic was not bad, the weather was perfect. The night before, we had discussed stopping to eat breakfast, but no one mentioned it, so I never stopped. By the time we got to the condo, everyone was cranky! And I do mean CRANKY.
After check in, we loaded our first trolley up and proceeded to the room. Of course, some people just had to complain about it being on the 6th floor (which is the top floor at our hotel). I personally think that a) the view is spectacular from here and b) there is no one above us to disturb us. Whatever...the room and view are wonderful. After we got to the room, I unloaded the trolley and then wanted to go get the next load. You would have thought I was asking for the moon. Someone just wanted to sit on his ass and do nothing. He could not understand WHY I wanted to go get the rest of the stuff right away. My philosophy is: Get it all unloaded right away so we can get it all put away and relax. I got told several times today that I am crazy.
After we got done unloading, I guess the hunger/low blood sugar/assholishness was at its highest. No one could decide what they wanted to eat. Finally we went to the front desk to ask for recommendations. The place the clerk recommended was about 3 miles up the road...we drove up there and the only parking was public parking that cost $5. Yeah, no. So we came back down towards the hotel to try another restaurant. Pulled into a parking lot that was marked for valet parking, tried a parking lot across the street, but there was a sign that said you would be towed. So I moved to a parking space behind the valet. Someone kept being snide and nasty...and BOOM! The vacation super meltdown happened. I must admit that I am the one who melts down when I begin to feel overwhelmed and under appreciated. And so it was today. Suffice it to say, keys were thrown, storming off ensued. I stalked off and walked all the way back to our hotel. It was an OK walk, not too far. Apparently, they didn't really figure out where I had gone. Kait went into the restaurant and asked if I had come in there...she texted me.
I was so upset. And it really is silly. I cater to everyone else's needs throughout vacation and when they act like asses, it hurts my feelings and makes me angry. Let's see...I packed everything, loaded the car, unpacked everything at FW, cooked breakfast (which I didn't mind), made sure everyone had food and was happy. Repacked everything, reloaded the car, double-, triple-checked to make sure we hadn't left anything and unloaded the car when we got to the beach (mostly by myself). So, when I get tired and cranky, calling me crazy and being snide doesn't really bode well. So, yes, the meltdown occurs every single trip without fail. I want say a special THANKS to Robin! She took time out of her busy work day to listen to me rant and rave. She gave me just the right amount of sympathy and reality to help me get over the meltdown! Of course, it helps that she is married to a high-strung person just like me! She has the experience to "talk us down"!!!
The two who got left behind figured it out though! They found a restaurant close to where I had parked, went in and got carryout...even brought me a sandwich. I took a nap, went to the store(s)...had to get alcohol and bug itch medicine. We had a pleasant evening in the room, I made Mango margaritas with Cuervo 1800 Coconut Tequila. I love rooms with blenders. Greg went to bed fairly early, Kait and I stayed up and talked for a while. The bed is comfy...the room is fine. Everything should be back to normal now.
The only complaint I have about our resort is the parking (or lack thereof). If you don't already know, I drive a GMC Yukon XL (lately only for doggie transport and vacation). It is a BIG HONKIN' SUV. The parking for our condo is under the building, which is great; however, my truck DOES NOT fit in the space allotted. To get in, you need the space behind to be empty so you can back into it and pull forward. To leave, the space needs to be empty again. Not happening. I am now parked in the front of the hotel, with permission of the manager. Let me just state that the staff here is friendly, efficient and AWESOME.
Off to watch the sunrise...well, not really...but watching it lighten up over the Gulf.
(By the way, we are staying at the Surf Beach Resort)
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Disney & The Beach - Day 4 October 13, 2014
Tuesday was a bit more humid, but still in the same mid-80's temperature range. I didn't cook breakfast for Greg & Kaitlyn and they were disappointed. Hey, we have cereal and muffins, so that should be sufficient.
We had noon FastPass+ for the Magic Kingdom. I was very excited as I have been waiting for a year to ride the newest attraction at MK, Seven Dwarves Mine Ride. It's a coaster that is Snow White themed and had some new technology on the cars.
Greg chose not to go, so he dropped Kaitlyn and I at the Marina, where we planned on taking a launch to MK. Unfortunately, the launches were not traveling between FW & MK at that time. There was a crane doing some work on the monorail and the barge was larger than Disney had anticipated. So, we took a boat to the Contemporary and walked from there.
The Contemporary is a HUGE resort. Kaitlyn and I have stayed there in the past and will do so in the future. But walking to the MK from there is an easy 10-minute stroll. We had fun, except for the inconsiderate people who think that they own the sidewalk and can walk 3 across. I seriously considered ramming into the mom of the group, but my innate politeness overrode those considerations and I moved aside.
Once at the MK, we wandered through the Disney Emporium, getting ideas for souvenirs and gifts. We found several and purchased them on our way back through. The park was semi-crowded, but we didn't have too many problems navigating our way to the very farthest away attraction, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. BTMR is a rollercoaster, themed like an out-of-control mine train in the western desert/mountains. We have ridden it many times and simply love it. It's a bit rough, but fast and fun. The worst part was, even with FP+, we still had about a 30 minute wait (and half of that was in the sun). As we went through the line, Cast Members were giving explicit instructions about which line to be in. Apparently, some people didn't pay attention and got separated from their group. OOPS. That's what happens if you don't listen (or in their case, don't understand English). Overall, the ride was fast and fun and the crowds were polite.
After the mine ride, we decided we should probably eat some lunch. We were going to try the Tortuga Tavern, but it was closed, so we opted for Pecos Bill's. The food there is similar to Chipotle (which is NOT my favorite restaurant). We both got the Chicken Rice Bowls. Kaitlyn ate it all in record time. I ate about half and was full.
We then proceeded to walk all the way across the park to the Seven Dwarves. Easy walk, not too crowded. Kaitlyn and I are experienced crowd walkers and can weave in and out of traffic easily. As we got there, we checked the Stand-By time...it was only 60 minutes (which is so low for that particular ride). We basically walked onto it with our FP+!
The cars are mine cars and they sway side-to-side (that's the new technology). During slower times, we would swing our cart! The twists and turns are phenomenal. The audio-animatronics are great (as usual). I really, really liked this ride and it will be on my must-do list every year. If I had any complaint about it, it would be that the ride is just too short.
After the ride, we went back, got Starbucks and did our shopping. Thanks Dino for the gift cards...you helped me buy a lot of stuff! We then caught a bus back to FW and the first screw up of the day.
Normally traveling between the MK and FW is the easiest thing in the world. But with the aforementioned issues, we ended up on a bus that went to Wilderness Lodge and FW. Greg was supposed to be picking us up in the golf cart. Well, he went to the Outpost (which is where I told him to go). Unfortunately, the bus dropped us off at the Settlement. I texted him and told him we were going to the Trading Post (forgetting that there are TWO). After we came out of the Trading Post, he wasn't there, I got angry and started walking back...it's a very long way from the Settlement to our cabin. Luckily, he got to us fairly quickly and picked us up!
Back at the cabin, we relaxed for a bit. Our plan was to go back to EPCOT for more food & wine. Greg again declined that adventure and drove Kait and I to the Outpost to catch our bus. This time, baggage check was a walk-through, and the crowd levels were lower than the night before. We went through MouseGear, only intending to look, but ended up purchasing all of our souvenirs there. They have a wonderful feature, Package Pickup. Usually, you can have your stuff sent to your room/cabin, but since we were checking out the next day, that wasn't an option. We had it sent to PP to be picked up on our way out of the park. It worked like a dream, no package to carry around...
Our first stop was Farm-Fresh. The food smelled phenomenal, but we really just wanted to try the Cider Flight. I liked the Raspberry and Elderberry Hard Ciders, Kaitlyn drank the Dry Pear (which was disgusting) and Pumpkin. Overall, they were good and a fantastic alternative for people (like me) who do not like beer.
Our next stop was the Craft Beers (after a pit stop). Yeah, I know, I just said I don't like beer. But Kaitlyn does. So we tried Keybilly Island Ale, A Blueberry Ale, A Honey Wheat Ale and Grateful Pumpkin Ale. I liked the Blueberry and the Keybilly and drank most of those. Kaitlyn drank all the rest and I assume she liked them.
After that, we headed to Mexico to get our Margaritas. Strawberry/Mango frozen margaritas! Yum. Have to drink them slow or you get a headache. We sauntered over to Poland and got Kielbasa with Potato Pierogies. Kaitlyn really wasn't sharing but I did get one pierogi and one piece of Kielbasa. It was fantastic. We both loved it. They also had sauerkraut pirogues, but uh, NO.
Our next stop was Hops & Barley at the American Pavilion. Kaitlyn wanted the Lobster Roll (I tasted it...yuck). We sat and listened to Rick Springfield while she ate it. After that, we got Mimosa Royale and a chicken Harissa from Morocco. Kaitlyn got something else to drink (I don't remember what), we did some shopping in Japan and made our way to the front of the park. Picked up our package at PP and got a bus back to the campground.
Second screw-up of the day: I called Greg to have him come pick us up. Since we stopped at Wilderness Lodge, I figured we'd get dropped off at the Settlement again. Yeah, no. Outpost. So Greg didn't catch up with us until we were nearly back at the cabin.
Kait and I grabbed the golf cart and ran up to the beach to watch the Electrical Water Parade and Hallowishes fireworks from the MK. It was fun.
So now on to packing and off to the beach! Hope you're having fun reading about our escapades.
Talk to you later!
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Disney & The Beach - Day 3 October 12, 2015
So, yesterday was our second day in the parks. I got up early, as usual. Sat on the deck, typed the report, and people watched.
I made breakfast for Greg & Kaitlyn. This is something I rarely do at home, but weirdly, do not mind doing on vacation. Omelets and sausage...I don't eat any of it. But they said they were good. We cleaned up the kitchen, got dressed and prepared for the day.
Kaitlyn and I tried to convince Greg to come with us to Hollywood Studios, but he was dawdling and decided to stay at the cabin. Our vacation styles are so very different...
We drove to the Outpost and caught the bus to Hollywood Studios. Our first FastPass+ wasn't until 2:55 and we arrived around 2. Kaitlyn tried to buy water at the first kiosk, but she couldn't remember her pin for her Magic Band and was trying to pay cash. Apparently, they don't get a lot of cash and the drawer was stuck. So, we wandered through the shops on Hollywood Boulevard...always a dangerous endeavor. I spent some money on jewelry, including a new faux wedding band with Swarovski Crystal Mickeys on it. We are still in search of the elusive Halloween Ears Kaitlyn wants. But we'll find them. After we made our way to the end of Sunset Blvd, we grabbed some ice cream. I had a Mickey Ice Cream Sandwich, which was yummy and Kaitlyn got a fruit bar which she said was good as well. Then off to find bathrooms. And constant shaming by Kaitlyn for me to ride the Rock N Rollercoaster. Yeah, still leery of that one. It is an indoor launching coaster that loops. I don't do loops (YET). Someday, maybe I'll ride it. Today was not that day. Stand-by wait times were about 45 minutes, which isn't bad for these parks, but over my maximum of 30. And for me to ride this particular ride, I would need a walk-on.
Our first FP+ was for the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. This is a free-fall attraction that is breathtaking. For many years, I refused to ride it. I was afraid of the unknown. I was stupid! Two years ago, Kaitlyn shamed me into riding and I've been happily riding it ever since. This ride has a backstory that was made into a movie a while back. You cruise a long for a bit, then the doors open and whoosh freefall down a few stories...then back up and down several times. They change it up so no two rides are the same. It was a blast.
After the TOT, we had FP+ scheduled for much later in the day. We stopped and got some Angry Orchard and sat in the DSA (Designated Smoking Area) by the Great Movie Ride and discussed our plans for the rest of the day. After some very interesting people watching and the ensuing conversations about said people, we decided to cancel the other two FP+'s, go back to the cabin, pick Greg up and head to EPCOT for the F&W festival.
Greg actually went with us!!! I know, I was hugely surprised. I was also concerned because he is even less patient than I with crowds and lines and I knew there were bound to be both! But he was a trooper, sat through a couple of PhotoPass sessions, and didn't complain too much. He was very hungry, so he and Kait looked through the Food & Wine Booklet to figure out what he wanted. In the meantime, I went and got a Dole Whip Soft Serve w/coconut rum for me and a Dragonberry Refresher for Kaitlyn. I shared the Dole Whip with Greg (and let me say, if the actual regular Dole Whips taste this good, I'm pissed I haven't gotten one before). He had chosen Canada's booth, for a Filet Mignon, but their line was too long for him. Apparently, Kaitlyn & my's pace was too fast for him, he made us slow down and/or stop several times. It's funny how Kaitlyn is accommodating for her daddy but pushes me as hard as she can :)
We stopped at France and got Greg some Boeuf Bourguignon: Braised Short Ribs in Cabernet Sauvignon with Mashed Potatoes (He loved it and didn't even share). I got an Ice Pop Pomme which is basically a push up with Apple Juice, Vodka, and Saint Germain Liqueur and Kaitlyn got a La Passion Martini Slush (Grey Goose le Citron Vodka, Cranberry and Passionfruit juice).
On to Japan. Kaitlyn wanted Sushi (yuck). Greg and I sat in one of the DSA's rocking to Rick Springfield (caught a glimpse of him later and he's still sexy) while she went to get her nasty raw fish. She got the Spicy Hand Roll with some kind of volcano sauce and I think the Tempura Shrimp roll. She offered to share, but we both declined. Along the way, we stopped and bought (gasp) Bud Lite and Miller Light for Greg and Kaitlyn.
Wandering on, I wanted a Bratwurst, so we stopped in Germany. Their brats aren't what I am used to, more like a little sausage, but it was very yummy. I even liked the mustard! I also got an apple Streudel, it must have been good, because I absolutely destroyed it. I did share a bite with Greg and shared the brat with Kait and Greg. I also got a Radeberger Zwickel Pilsner (which I knew was beer, but I was thirsty. It was surprisingly good).
After Germany, we finished our loop around. We noticed the time, decided we didn't want to stay for IllumiNations and made our way back to the busses. They were crowded, but Greg was happy about the length of the trip. Apparently it was only 14 minutes (seemed longer, my arm was killing me from holding onto the strap).
When we got back to the campground, Kaitlyn and I went out on the Golf Cart. We went to the beach to watch the Electrical Water Parade. It has barely changed in 25 years, but is a "do not miss" event. We broke a few rules, drove like crazy people. Stopped by the movie (which was "Disney Descendants") and then came back to the Cabin. Went to bed around 11. I had a Not Your Father's Root Beer (which are very dangerous because they have a high alcohol content and taste just like root beer).
I woke up with a nasty headache this morning (probably courtesy of the alcohol from last night). But our plans today include a trip to the Magic Kingdom and then Kaitlyn and I are going back to EPCOT for a while. Greg has declined to attend. He just can't keep up with us and thinks we're nuts. I think I promised him last night that I will never make him come to Disney again. But I will continue to go every year (working on 2 times a year as long as I have an Annual Pass).
Hope everyone has a Magical Day! I know I will.
I made breakfast for Greg & Kaitlyn. This is something I rarely do at home, but weirdly, do not mind doing on vacation. Omelets and sausage...I don't eat any of it. But they said they were good. We cleaned up the kitchen, got dressed and prepared for the day.
Kaitlyn and I tried to convince Greg to come with us to Hollywood Studios, but he was dawdling and decided to stay at the cabin. Our vacation styles are so very different...
We drove to the Outpost and caught the bus to Hollywood Studios. Our first FastPass+ wasn't until 2:55 and we arrived around 2. Kaitlyn tried to buy water at the first kiosk, but she couldn't remember her pin for her Magic Band and was trying to pay cash. Apparently, they don't get a lot of cash and the drawer was stuck. So, we wandered through the shops on Hollywood Boulevard...always a dangerous endeavor. I spent some money on jewelry, including a new faux wedding band with Swarovski Crystal Mickeys on it. We are still in search of the elusive Halloween Ears Kaitlyn wants. But we'll find them. After we made our way to the end of Sunset Blvd, we grabbed some ice cream. I had a Mickey Ice Cream Sandwich, which was yummy and Kaitlyn got a fruit bar which she said was good as well. Then off to find bathrooms. And constant shaming by Kaitlyn for me to ride the Rock N Rollercoaster. Yeah, still leery of that one. It is an indoor launching coaster that loops. I don't do loops (YET). Someday, maybe I'll ride it. Today was not that day. Stand-by wait times were about 45 minutes, which isn't bad for these parks, but over my maximum of 30. And for me to ride this particular ride, I would need a walk-on.
Our first FP+ was for the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. This is a free-fall attraction that is breathtaking. For many years, I refused to ride it. I was afraid of the unknown. I was stupid! Two years ago, Kaitlyn shamed me into riding and I've been happily riding it ever since. This ride has a backstory that was made into a movie a while back. You cruise a long for a bit, then the doors open and whoosh freefall down a few stories...then back up and down several times. They change it up so no two rides are the same. It was a blast.
After the TOT, we had FP+ scheduled for much later in the day. We stopped and got some Angry Orchard and sat in the DSA (Designated Smoking Area) by the Great Movie Ride and discussed our plans for the rest of the day. After some very interesting people watching and the ensuing conversations about said people, we decided to cancel the other two FP+'s, go back to the cabin, pick Greg up and head to EPCOT for the F&W festival.
Greg actually went with us!!! I know, I was hugely surprised. I was also concerned because he is even less patient than I with crowds and lines and I knew there were bound to be both! But he was a trooper, sat through a couple of PhotoPass sessions, and didn't complain too much. He was very hungry, so he and Kait looked through the Food & Wine Booklet to figure out what he wanted. In the meantime, I went and got a Dole Whip Soft Serve w/coconut rum for me and a Dragonberry Refresher for Kaitlyn. I shared the Dole Whip with Greg (and let me say, if the actual regular Dole Whips taste this good, I'm pissed I haven't gotten one before). He had chosen Canada's booth, for a Filet Mignon, but their line was too long for him. Apparently, Kaitlyn & my's pace was too fast for him, he made us slow down and/or stop several times. It's funny how Kaitlyn is accommodating for her daddy but pushes me as hard as she can :)
We stopped at France and got Greg some Boeuf Bourguignon: Braised Short Ribs in Cabernet Sauvignon with Mashed Potatoes (He loved it and didn't even share). I got an Ice Pop Pomme which is basically a push up with Apple Juice, Vodka, and Saint Germain Liqueur and Kaitlyn got a La Passion Martini Slush (Grey Goose le Citron Vodka, Cranberry and Passionfruit juice).
On to Japan. Kaitlyn wanted Sushi (yuck). Greg and I sat in one of the DSA's rocking to Rick Springfield (caught a glimpse of him later and he's still sexy) while she went to get her nasty raw fish. She got the Spicy Hand Roll with some kind of volcano sauce and I think the Tempura Shrimp roll. She offered to share, but we both declined. Along the way, we stopped and bought (gasp) Bud Lite and Miller Light for Greg and Kaitlyn.
Wandering on, I wanted a Bratwurst, so we stopped in Germany. Their brats aren't what I am used to, more like a little sausage, but it was very yummy. I even liked the mustard! I also got an apple Streudel, it must have been good, because I absolutely destroyed it. I did share a bite with Greg and shared the brat with Kait and Greg. I also got a Radeberger Zwickel Pilsner (which I knew was beer, but I was thirsty. It was surprisingly good).
After Germany, we finished our loop around. We noticed the time, decided we didn't want to stay for IllumiNations and made our way back to the busses. They were crowded, but Greg was happy about the length of the trip. Apparently it was only 14 minutes (seemed longer, my arm was killing me from holding onto the strap).
When we got back to the campground, Kaitlyn and I went out on the Golf Cart. We went to the beach to watch the Electrical Water Parade. It has barely changed in 25 years, but is a "do not miss" event. We broke a few rules, drove like crazy people. Stopped by the movie (which was "Disney Descendants") and then came back to the Cabin. Went to bed around 11. I had a Not Your Father's Root Beer (which are very dangerous because they have a high alcohol content and taste just like root beer).
I woke up with a nasty headache this morning (probably courtesy of the alcohol from last night). But our plans today include a trip to the Magic Kingdom and then Kaitlyn and I are going back to EPCOT for a while. Greg has declined to attend. He just can't keep up with us and thinks we're nuts. I think I promised him last night that I will never make him come to Disney again. But I will continue to go every year (working on 2 times a year as long as I have an Annual Pass).
Hope everyone has a Magical Day! I know I will.
Monday, October 12, 2015
Disney & The Beach - Day 2, October 11, 2015
After going to bed at 2 AM, I was rather surprised when I woke back up at 7 and felt somewhat refreshed and energized. So, I got up and grabbed my laptop to sit on the deck. It is so much fun to sit here and watch the Fort wake up! Busses constantly running, staff flying here, there and everywhere. Our site is somewhat close to a main road, so we see a lot of traffic. But that's OK, because it serves as entertainment. We get to see all of the decorated golf carts as they "loop" ( a practice here of driving your golf cart around every single camping/cabin loop).
Fort Wilderness fact - there are 799 campsites and 409 cabins. That translates to, assuming 4 people/site or cabin, nearly 5000 people at maximum capacity. Mind boggling. Of course, right now there are 2-3 cabin loops shut down for refurbishment. But, even at a full capacity, the transportation system never seems to feel cramped and you don't feel crowded. I love this campground because it has such a laid-back feel, but is still part of the Disney experience. This is the 5th or 6th time we've stayed at this resort and it is just HOME. If I won the lottery, I would seriously considering living here year round (it would be ridiculously expensive, but oh so worth it to me).
Back to our trip report: Around 9, I went up to the Outpost to see about picking up my golf cart. I had made a reservation and the cast member said I should be able to pick it up early. Yeah, no. Since the campground had been at or near capacity all weekend, they had to wait to get carts back and nothing would be ready until 1. OK, majorly disappointed, I walked back to our loop and caught a bus to the Meadow Trading post to get some milk. Ended up getting bacon and eggs to cook breakfast. Downside of cooking bacon? It took all day for the scent to dissipate and you can still catch a hint of fried bacon. But the breakfast made Kait and Greg happy, so it was worth it. After I cleaned up breakfast, Kait and I went to ABC to pick up beer and wine (since I left mine at home). We waited in a huge line to get back in (because no one told me about the back gate :( ). Once we did, she dropped me off, I picked up my golf cart. By that time, we needed to leave to get to Animal Kingdom for our fast passes. (note: if you're not a Disney Enthusiast, you may not know what those are. Basically, you get to walk onto rides or have a very short wait, compared to 100 minute waits). Greg chose to stay at the campsite and play with the golf cart.
Kait and I had a private bus to AK. It was phenomenal to ride without listening to crying children or rude people. We got new Platinum Plus Annual Passes (which have a glitch I need to call Disney about). And we went to catch our safari. We saw tons of animals, even the lions and cheetahs that we have rarely seen. Kaitlyn said she wanted to pet a cheetah, because the guide said they purr just like regular cats, except louder. Yeah, probably not louder than Bailey. It was a nice ride, I took my regular crappy photos.
After the safari, Kait was hungry, so we stopped at the Harambe Market. Interesting smells drew us in. I got a grilled chicken skewer and Kaitlyn opted for the Grilled Beef Gyro. Both were excellent. We split a red sangria with tangerine liqueur. It was OK, but I don't really like red wine.
Following lunch (and questioning the timing), we proceeded to Expedition: Everest to visit the Yeti. I swear they changed the ride since the last time we were there, but Kaitlyn said no. I'm not convinced. It felt like they added a loop. But it was exhilarating. I waited so many years to ride it and finally did 2 years ago and haven't stopped! I actually like it a lot.
After EE, we had FP+ for Kali River Rapids, but Kaitlyn said no. Some day I'll get her on that ride. We wandered around AK for a while, stopped to get a drink...she got a frozen drink of some sort, I got a margarita. The cast member working that kiosk was an idiot and had no idea how to make Kaitlyn's drink. We had to tell him how.
After we got our drinks, we wandered around a bit more, sat on a bench and people watched, then decided to go back to the campsite. Greg picked us up at the bus stop and we drove around for a bit. He was hungry so we got Trails To Go for him ( a Pulled Pork BBQ sandwich that was HUGE and good and some Mac & Cheese). After that, we decided to hang around the campground for the night. Greg called it a night early and Kaitlyn and I drove every loop. We went to the beach for a while but got bored. Came back and went to bed. It was a fun day and I am looking forward to more today.
Have fun wherever you are!
Fort Wilderness fact - there are 799 campsites and 409 cabins. That translates to, assuming 4 people/site or cabin, nearly 5000 people at maximum capacity. Mind boggling. Of course, right now there are 2-3 cabin loops shut down for refurbishment. But, even at a full capacity, the transportation system never seems to feel cramped and you don't feel crowded. I love this campground because it has such a laid-back feel, but is still part of the Disney experience. This is the 5th or 6th time we've stayed at this resort and it is just HOME. If I won the lottery, I would seriously considering living here year round (it would be ridiculously expensive, but oh so worth it to me).
Back to our trip report: Around 9, I went up to the Outpost to see about picking up my golf cart. I had made a reservation and the cast member said I should be able to pick it up early. Yeah, no. Since the campground had been at or near capacity all weekend, they had to wait to get carts back and nothing would be ready until 1. OK, majorly disappointed, I walked back to our loop and caught a bus to the Meadow Trading post to get some milk. Ended up getting bacon and eggs to cook breakfast. Downside of cooking bacon? It took all day for the scent to dissipate and you can still catch a hint of fried bacon. But the breakfast made Kait and Greg happy, so it was worth it. After I cleaned up breakfast, Kait and I went to ABC to pick up beer and wine (since I left mine at home). We waited in a huge line to get back in (because no one told me about the back gate :( ). Once we did, she dropped me off, I picked up my golf cart. By that time, we needed to leave to get to Animal Kingdom for our fast passes. (note: if you're not a Disney Enthusiast, you may not know what those are. Basically, you get to walk onto rides or have a very short wait, compared to 100 minute waits). Greg chose to stay at the campsite and play with the golf cart.
Kait and I had a private bus to AK. It was phenomenal to ride without listening to crying children or rude people. We got new Platinum Plus Annual Passes (which have a glitch I need to call Disney about). And we went to catch our safari. We saw tons of animals, even the lions and cheetahs that we have rarely seen. Kaitlyn said she wanted to pet a cheetah, because the guide said they purr just like regular cats, except louder. Yeah, probably not louder than Bailey. It was a nice ride, I took my regular crappy photos.
After the safari, Kait was hungry, so we stopped at the Harambe Market. Interesting smells drew us in. I got a grilled chicken skewer and Kaitlyn opted for the Grilled Beef Gyro. Both were excellent. We split a red sangria with tangerine liqueur. It was OK, but I don't really like red wine.
Following lunch (and questioning the timing), we proceeded to Expedition: Everest to visit the Yeti. I swear they changed the ride since the last time we were there, but Kaitlyn said no. I'm not convinced. It felt like they added a loop. But it was exhilarating. I waited so many years to ride it and finally did 2 years ago and haven't stopped! I actually like it a lot.
After EE, we had FP+ for Kali River Rapids, but Kaitlyn said no. Some day I'll get her on that ride. We wandered around AK for a while, stopped to get a drink...she got a frozen drink of some sort, I got a margarita. The cast member working that kiosk was an idiot and had no idea how to make Kaitlyn's drink. We had to tell him how.
After we got our drinks, we wandered around a bit more, sat on a bench and people watched, then decided to go back to the campsite. Greg picked us up at the bus stop and we drove around for a bit. He was hungry so we got Trails To Go for him ( a Pulled Pork BBQ sandwich that was HUGE and good and some Mac & Cheese). After that, we decided to hang around the campground for the night. Greg called it a night early and Kaitlyn and I drove every loop. We went to the beach for a while but got bored. Came back and went to bed. It was a fun day and I am looking forward to more today.
Have fun wherever you are!
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Disney and the Beach - Day 1 October 10, 2015
My eyes popped open of their own accord at 5:55 AM. I knew I had to get up and get moving! We were leaving for our trip to Walt Disney World - Fort Wilderness Campground and then onto Treasure Island. For once, my car was mostly packed, all we needed to do was throw the laptop in the Yukon and pick up the girl!
We were on the road by 8:30, about 30 minutes later than my target. If you know anything about us, you will understand how happy I was that we were that close to original time. I would have like to left even earlier, but we attended a wedding the night before and 8 AM was the earliest I could face.
It was overcast most of the drive, with some very light sprinkles in Georgia. The drivers were their normal insane selves, but I was prepared for that. For the most part, it was a pleasant trip. Gas prices are fairly low, which made my thirsty Behemoth happy. Greg and Kaitlyn decided that there were to be no photos at the TN welcome station, which made me pout for a minute.
We were making AWESOME time until...we hit Atlanta. So many fender bender accidents on the side of the road, so much traffic. We actually went straight through, rather than the bypass and were still on track to get to FW by 10 PM. Nope, traffic gods said NOPE. Just south of Atlanta, we saw a traffic sign "Traffic Advisory - Exit 228 to 218 Avoid ONE HOUR DELAY, choose alternate route"!! WTF??? I have the world's worst shotgun/navigator and my backseat driver isn't any better. I don't know any alternate routes in Atlanta, so we decided to tough it out. Stop & Go traffic for over 10 miles, took about 45 minutes. I saw so many examples of assholery...seriously, this one lady driving a Jetta from KY kept weaving in and out of traffic. Sweetheart, no one was going anywhere fast, so get over it. As we got out of the back up, she ended up about 25 cars behind me. HA. I was patient, held my lane and we chatted all the way through.
Once through that, we motored oe through the boringness that is Southern Georgia. I absolutely despise I75, but there is no better route to central FL. I started getting snippy towards the end, as did Kaitlyn, but we pulled into FW around 11:15 PM.
Checked in, I already knew our Cabin #. Unfortunately, it was nothing I requested. Fortunately, it is still a great location and will be fine. Going to pick up our golf cart in a bit. Then it's off to see and explore and maybe get a little tipsy at the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival.
Thanks for reading. I will try to do a daily update!
We were on the road by 8:30, about 30 minutes later than my target. If you know anything about us, you will understand how happy I was that we were that close to original time. I would have like to left even earlier, but we attended a wedding the night before and 8 AM was the earliest I could face.
It was overcast most of the drive, with some very light sprinkles in Georgia. The drivers were their normal insane selves, but I was prepared for that. For the most part, it was a pleasant trip. Gas prices are fairly low, which made my thirsty Behemoth happy. Greg and Kaitlyn decided that there were to be no photos at the TN welcome station, which made me pout for a minute.
We were making AWESOME time until...we hit Atlanta. So many fender bender accidents on the side of the road, so much traffic. We actually went straight through, rather than the bypass and were still on track to get to FW by 10 PM. Nope, traffic gods said NOPE. Just south of Atlanta, we saw a traffic sign "Traffic Advisory - Exit 228 to 218 Avoid ONE HOUR DELAY, choose alternate route"!! WTF??? I have the world's worst shotgun/navigator and my backseat driver isn't any better. I don't know any alternate routes in Atlanta, so we decided to tough it out. Stop & Go traffic for over 10 miles, took about 45 minutes. I saw so many examples of assholery...seriously, this one lady driving a Jetta from KY kept weaving in and out of traffic. Sweetheart, no one was going anywhere fast, so get over it. As we got out of the back up, she ended up about 25 cars behind me. HA. I was patient, held my lane and we chatted all the way through.
Once through that, we motored oe through the boringness that is Southern Georgia. I absolutely despise I75, but there is no better route to central FL. I started getting snippy towards the end, as did Kaitlyn, but we pulled into FW around 11:15 PM.
Checked in, I already knew our Cabin #. Unfortunately, it was nothing I requested. Fortunately, it is still a great location and will be fine. Going to pick up our golf cart in a bit. Then it's off to see and explore and maybe get a little tipsy at the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival.
Thanks for reading. I will try to do a daily update!
Monday, August 10, 2015
So as a follow up to my last post:
Kaitlyn is still dating someone of whom I am not fond. But again, not my life. She is happily looking for a condo and may have found one she wants to buy, in an area that doesn't suck.
I have moved my search from the other side of town to Florida. I do not want to be cold anymore...
Which leads me to the worst part of it all: My mom passed away on July 24, 2015. I am not prostrate with grief or overwhelmed by it. Maybe it will all catch up with me sometime in the future, but I think I'll be OK. I get sad when I realize I cannot call her to complain or laugh or tell her about a TV program to watch. It was sad to go through all of her things and divide them up between my brothers and myself. But I know, in the long run, it is the best. Of course, it helps to know she is about 5 feet from me right now. No, she's not a ghost (at least I am not aware of her if she is), but rather, I have her ashes here, to be scattered at a later date.
So there you go. Randomness at its finest.
Kaitlyn is still dating someone of whom I am not fond. But again, not my life. She is happily looking for a condo and may have found one she wants to buy, in an area that doesn't suck.
I have moved my search from the other side of town to Florida. I do not want to be cold anymore...
Which leads me to the worst part of it all: My mom passed away on July 24, 2015. I am not prostrate with grief or overwhelmed by it. Maybe it will all catch up with me sometime in the future, but I think I'll be OK. I get sad when I realize I cannot call her to complain or laugh or tell her about a TV program to watch. It was sad to go through all of her things and divide them up between my brothers and myself. But I know, in the long run, it is the best. Of course, it helps to know she is about 5 feet from me right now. No, she's not a ghost (at least I am not aware of her if she is), but rather, I have her ashes here, to be scattered at a later date.
So there you go. Randomness at its finest.
Sunday, July 19, 2015
Seriously hating my life right now. Nothing seems to be going right. And hasn't since last summer.
1st problem - Kaitlyn broke up with Daniel and he let her. Yes, in my eyes, that's the way it went. I understand on one level that maybe it was for the best. And then they both started dating people I don't like. I know, not my place to like or dislike. But I don't. They broke up with the others and I had hope that they would get back together and life as I knew it would go back to normal. Nope. She still had expectations that he couldn't fulfill. So poof...now they are both dating the people I don't like and I can't do anything about it. I'll live...it's really not the worst thing going on in my life right now.
2nd problem - I hate where I live, I always have. But I've stayed here because Greg seems to like it. I want to move to the other side of town, found a very interesting house in our price range. But Greg won't even consider it. I think I'm just tired of looking after his interests when he has no desire to do the same.
In his defense, though, Greg does let me take extravagant vacations with Kaitlyn. For the last few years, we have gone to Disney twice (and stayed in Deluxe Hotels) and Las Vegas (stayed in a very nice hotel). And if I told him tomorrow that I wanted to go again, he'd probably let me.
3rd (and by far, the worst) problem - My mom is dying. Just seeing those words in print make me cry. Apparently, she has Motor Neuron Disease. Incurable, untreatable. And it's pretty much end stage. Within the last few months, she has gone from being my best friend to a shell of the person she was. I thought I was strong enough to handle this. I don't know if I am. I don't know if I should pray for a miracle to make her better or pray to let her go. She hasn't had a good life and deserves some peace, some respite from the pain. All I know is, no matter how old I am, I still need my mom. But I love her enough to let go.
And that is my bummer post for the night.
1st problem - Kaitlyn broke up with Daniel and he let her. Yes, in my eyes, that's the way it went. I understand on one level that maybe it was for the best. And then they both started dating people I don't like. I know, not my place to like or dislike. But I don't. They broke up with the others and I had hope that they would get back together and life as I knew it would go back to normal. Nope. She still had expectations that he couldn't fulfill. So poof...now they are both dating the people I don't like and I can't do anything about it. I'll live...it's really not the worst thing going on in my life right now.
2nd problem - I hate where I live, I always have. But I've stayed here because Greg seems to like it. I want to move to the other side of town, found a very interesting house in our price range. But Greg won't even consider it. I think I'm just tired of looking after his interests when he has no desire to do the same.
In his defense, though, Greg does let me take extravagant vacations with Kaitlyn. For the last few years, we have gone to Disney twice (and stayed in Deluxe Hotels) and Las Vegas (stayed in a very nice hotel). And if I told him tomorrow that I wanted to go again, he'd probably let me.
3rd (and by far, the worst) problem - My mom is dying. Just seeing those words in print make me cry. Apparently, she has Motor Neuron Disease. Incurable, untreatable. And it's pretty much end stage. Within the last few months, she has gone from being my best friend to a shell of the person she was. I thought I was strong enough to handle this. I don't know if I am. I don't know if I should pray for a miracle to make her better or pray to let her go. She hasn't had a good life and deserves some peace, some respite from the pain. All I know is, no matter how old I am, I still need my mom. But I love her enough to let go.
And that is my bummer post for the night.
Saturday, July 11, 2015
Haven't written anything in a while. But felt the need for a poem. Go figure.
You tell me
You love him
You miss him
You want him
You tell me
You love her
You miss her
You want her
You are lonely
You are with others
You are lonely
And yet,
You miss each other
You want each other
You love each other
You love each other
Forever
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