Canadian Buffoon's Disney With a Teen Vacation - 08/13 - The Wrap

[pkondz]

As opposed to...

Oh, sorry. Thanks for the heads-up.

Hey!


Well..... okay.
When you're right, you're right.

This sounds like a chicken-and-egg argument to me.

Great. Now I want a chicken and egg sandwich.

Well, God gives you only so many hours on this earth. How you choose to spend them is up to you.

Can I choose more hours?

Whoa, you saw that? Guess I'd better behave here.

oh, and there are crumbs on your shirt.

Ah, yes. I support Philadelphia sports teams. We don't get to see very many trophies here.

I shouldn't laugh.
We have the Winnipeg Jets.

Cool building.

I thought so.

I did this over our summer trip, too. My dashboard GPS would disagree with Google Maps. I found that Google tended to be a bit more trustworthy (read: up-to-date).

Interesting. But I guess if you're gonna have self-driving cars...

That must be some poker chip. Like, when you play it, it guarantees that the roulette ball stops on your number.

It would... if you hadn't spent every penny you ever had just buying it.

It's just like listening to my kids talk about their Minecraft projects.

Ah yes. I remember when Kay was into that.
Now she plays.....

No. I won't say it. You have to guess.
It's the most popular game in the world now, apparently.
At least it seems so.

Did you really need the GPS for that? I figured you could randomly point the car anywhere in Canada and find a Tim Horton's.

Oh, no! It was absolutely crucial!
I was going to go back the way I came,
but the GPS steered me in the opposite
direction where there was a Timmie's
one block away.

If I'd gone the other way,
I might have had to drive three, maybe four blocks!

Who's got time for that?

I'd never do that! I mean, I just sneezed all over it.

I know.
It was horrific.


Still got those crumbs, bub.

No, no. They're all so different and unique.

You wear your sarcasm really well!
Actually, in every place there were
different and cool bikes to look at.

At this point, we're thinking: how likely is it that a cop will check on my car in the next hour or two, anyway?

At $12 a pop, I'm sure they hire a cop to check
on a permanent basis.

Yes! I remember watching Expos games way back when.

<sigh> When we had two Canadian teams to root for.

Can you confirm that payment?

But seriously:

It went through.... unfortunately.

Hey, wait? Why are you punishing us for this?

Well, I have to take it out on someone.

Oh, so it's like New Jersey, but in French.

Yep. Different words yelled at you.
Mind you, it's the same finger.

It was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, wasn't it? I bet the static was an improvement.

Actually, I racked my brain trying to remember.

Nope.
Gone.

Truth in advertising. I have to hand it to you there.

You'll always find nothing but the truth in my TRs.
You'll see that in the next chapter when I make it up.



I mean, report the facts....

crap.

Well, that sure looks comfortable. For the dog.

Is this a dog issue or a caregiver issue?

On the first... it was just... weird.
We've never had a leash come off the collar.
How does that even happen??

On the second.... It's the vet's fault!
(Or Kay. I'm okay with that option, too.)

I know what you mean about the meets, too. It still bugs me that Fargo didn't work out.

Yeah. Me too.
I actually just mentioned it to Ruby this morning.
Truth.

Would have loved to shake your hand. I really love my online friendships and I think it's cool to "know" people around the world, but there's something about meeting up IRL that solidifies it, you know?

There are a few people on here who post infrequently.
Occasionally I have to think (or check) to remember a name.

But never with the ones I've actually met.

Banff would be cool. I'd love to get up there someday.

It's really beautiful.
We were there a few years ago.

It's why Ruby wants to go back.

Which you knew. It still sounds weird, though.

That's a good woman, right there. A keeper!

Yup!

Well said!

 

[pkondz]

It's ok. I live near Chicago, and I still didn't think of that!

Seen your fair share of trophies.
That's for sure.

Of course, I only get to watch my hockey fan friends talk about it, since I'm not really into hockey. But, yeah, the Stanley Cup has done plenty of tours throughout Chicago in recent years...

And the Winnipeger on your team has a Community Centre
named after him near our place where Elle works at.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Can I choose more hours?

Is that like wishing for more wishes?

oh, and there are crumbs on your shirt.

I gotta find the camera.

I shouldn't laugh.
We have the Winnipeg Jets.

Yep. I know the feeling.

Ah yes. I remember when Kay was into that.
Now she plays.....

No. I won't say it. You have to guess.
It's the most popular game in the world now, apparently.
At least it seems so.

I'm sure it's the same one my kids are playing. Drew got a kick out of me calling him a Pokemon and then just grabbing him.

Oh, no! It was absolutely crucial!
I was going to go back the way I came,
but the GPS steered me in the opposite
direction where there was a Timmie's
one block away.

If I'd gone the other way,
I might have had to drive three, maybe four blocks!

Who's got time for that?

I'm with you. Trip planning is all about efficiency!

I know.
It was horrific.


Still got those crumbs, bub.

Nah, I just took my shirt off.

You wear your sarcasm really well!
Actually, in every place there were
different and cool bikes to look at.

I'm sure it would be cool for a bike geek. I wouldn't have the slightest idea what I was looking at.

<sigh> When we had two Canadian teams to root for.

As a kid, it took me the longest time to figure out that the Expos' logo was actually an M and not a cursive "elb".

Yep. Different words yelled at you.
Mind you, it's the same finger.

Reminds me of a quote from one of the Matrix movies:

"I love French. Such a beautiful language. Especially to curse with; it's like wiping your a** with silk."

You'll always find nothing but the truth in my TRs.
You'll see that in the next chapter when I make it up.



I mean, report the facts....

crap.

Never let the facts stand in the way of a good story!

Yeah. Me too.
I actually just mentioned it to Ruby this morning.
Truth.

Did she ask, "Who the heck are you talking about?"

At the very least, we have you to thank for an awesome restaurant recommendation.

There are a few people on here who post infrequently.
Occasionally I have to think (or check) to remember a name.

But never with the ones I've actually met.

We've struck up a close friendship with a couple of the DISDads. That's been pretty cool.

 

[DonnaBeeGood]

.

 

[SoccerDogWithEars]

Actually, it makes writing the rest of the TR easy.
If everyone stops reading,
then I can stop writing, right?

Nope. We're cruel like that. We will force you to keep writing.

(Would you please stop nodding in agreement!!)

Oh, no, I'm just....uh.....stretching my neck. Yeah, stretching.

Eventually, my car showed up
and we did the walk around thing.

Heh. You remember the Mustang I rented? I never did that. And then promptly backed into a retaining wall.
But they didn't say anything, and I never got charged for it, so.....

Pop in.
Grab a poker chip...
"$2.25 s'il vous plait."

She didn't get the memo that the price was supposed to drop

I ordered an iced lemonade
(aaaahhhhhh.... hits the spot)

I'm a sucker for lemonade. I looooooove Disney's frozen lemonade.

Pancakes? I'll have jam on mine, thanks.
Waffles? Honey, whipped cream and fruit.

That's just weird.

Are. You. Frickin'. Kidding. Me?????

Well, that's unfortunate.

The one that I left on top of the #$&^#* ticket machine!!!

Ok, at this point I started to giggle. Comedy of errors?

It's a lateral game of chicken.
The other car that wants your lane just moves into it.
And if you happen to be in the way,
you can do one of two things.
Brake and give way,
or crash.

This is what my experience in Atlanta was like. Terrifying. Which is why I made Joe drive when we went back.

The TV had so much static,
that it rendered the movie un-watchable.

Pretty much par for the course though wasn't it?

And we can't catch her.
She's too fast.

I always have a heart attack when my dogs get loose. I see them running and instantly my brain lovingly provides me with images of the worst possible scenario. Luckily, Belle doesn't seem to be a bolter. She'll trot off down the street and play deaf for a few minutes, but normally I get her back by running away (shockingly, it really does work because she thinks it's a game). If that doesn't work, you bring out the turkey pepperoni and she's your best friend again.

I fly out on September 14th, arriving that afternoon.
Spend a few days in Disney.
Fly home on the 18th.
It's all booked.

You sure you don't want to save money and drive? I mean, then you could just cut across the whole United States, go a little more north than you need, and stop in North Carolina.

I'd say I'd try to work in a short trip, but we have $0. Every spare cent we have is going towards the wedding. I will be happy when I no longer have to save anymore

 

[irene_dsc]

Ah yes. I remember when Kay was into that.
Now she plays.....

No. I won't say it. You have to guess.
It's the most popular game in the world now, apparently.
At least it seems so.

Lol. Didn't it just finally get released in Canada over the weekend? With my dd, I pretty much had to do it.

Seen your fair share of trophies.
That's for sure.

But, y'know, we still have the Cubs. Maybe next year???

 

[orangecats2]

Now she plays.....

No. I won't say it. You have to guess.
It's the most popular game in the world now, apparently.
At least it seems so.

Pokemon go. I'm half-heartedly playing

There are a few people on here who post infrequently.
Occasionally I have to think (or check) to remember a name.

But never with the ones I've actually met.

So you'll always know my name?

So I can stay in your room at Disney? And you'll buy my park tickets and meals too?

 

[PrincessCaitlin]

Of course I want to meet up! Glad to hear you found a way to get to Disney!

 

[Mrs T 2009]

Well, both DDs want to come with me.
But a) If I took one or both... then I can't afford it.
b) They're both in school and can't really afford to miss school.

Yeah.... The longer our oldest has been in school, the more we take trips during the summer or school breaks, opposed to during school time. It's important not to miss much, if any, school anymore. Sometimes it moves too quickly and he misses some important stuff!

That's what it always comes down to, isn't it?
Hopefully you'll be able to pull it off in the future.

Unfortunately.
Me too! I think we are going to try to shoot for next fall/winter. It would be a nice break from the weather, especially as it gets cooler!

We do have a trip planned for end of March, 2017... BUT It's not the same as a solo trip, or even one with just friends!

 

[MHSweb79]

I will be at Disney from 9/11-9/18 so if any of you guys are meeting, I want in! We're doing a split stay with first half at POFQ and second half at Yacht Club.

I remember going to the Botanical Gardens and those parking ticket machines really stumped us too! I think a local had to help us. I remember my friend fuming about the high prices, but there happened to be a huge topiary display going pn (I mean the topiaries were really gigantic) which was cool. It was also cool to see the Olympic Stadium across the street because I was a freshman in HS in 1976, so I remember watching those games on TV.

 

[rndmr2]

Glad that Luna seems to be doing OK. She is a little escape artist, isn't she, LOL

So glad you will still get to go to WDW for a few days. And then the trip to Banff with Ruby, too, that's great, i have heard nice things about Banff, I would love to see it someday.

Too bad you paid all that for parking and they were closed.

As far as a cruise goes, you will definitely find a better price on other cruise lines. There are some good ones out there, Celebrity being one of the best, pricier than other ones but still cheaper than Disney. Royal Caribbean is good, too. I have been on Carnival and Celebrity the most and then one each on NCL, RCCL and Princess. I would recommend any of them except maybe Carnival, I would do them again, but I would definitely pick another line first. That all being said I REALLY want to try a Disney cruise. From what I have heard they still have that little extra something that makes cruising so special now that it seems now is missing a lot of the time.

 

[Thumper_Man]

You're in big trouble with Lady H. I know we don't come to post very often, or as much as we would like to and used to; but you have always remembered an important date this time of year. Now you went and forgot. Lady H was a little sad this year and a little heartbroken cuz you didn't post anything.

 

[pkondz]

Is that like wishing for more wishes?

Yes. No one said it wasn't allowed.

I gotta find the camera.

Or at least stop mugging for it.

I'm sure it's the same one my kids are playing.

Drew got a kick out of me calling him a Pokemon and then just grabbing him.

I like that!

Nah, I just took my shirt off.

I know. Please put it back on.


please.

I'm sure it would be cool for a bike geek. I wouldn't have the slightest idea what I was looking at.

I'm actually not that much of a bike geek.
But I do like to look at the ones that have been customized.

As a kid, it took me the longest time to figure out that the Expos' logo was actually an M and not a cursive "elb".

Reminds me of a quote from one of the Matrix movies:

"I love French. Such a beautiful language. Especially to curse with; it's like wiping your a** with silk."

I don't know if you've ever translated what he says?
Not the nicest thing in the world to say.

Never let the facts stand in the way of a good story!

Did she ask, "Who the heck are you talking about?"

Nope! Knew exactly who I was talking about.
She's scary that way.

At the very least, we have you to thank for an awesome restaurant recommendation.

Glad you liked it! We did.

We've struck up a close friendship with a couple of the DISDads. That's been pretty cool.

 

[pkondz]

Well, this happened today, and he's the reason that I'm not going on an Alaskan cruise next month...

Worth it!
So cute!!

Luna (the cat) is. Not. Impressed.

No, I suppose not.
Piper (our other dog) wasn't either.
But she's much happier now that our Luna isn't allowed to walk.

And Tucker cannot figure out why she doesn't want to play. Yet.

But desperately wants to, right?

But there have been no attacks yet, so that's a good sign.

 

[pkondz]

Nope. We're cruel like that. We will force you to keep writing.

Dang...

Oh, no, I'm just....uh.....stretching my neck. Yeah, stretching.

Is that what that is?


Er... uh... I mean... How would I know what you're doing?


Yeah. That's it.

Heh. You remember the Mustang I rented? I never did that. And then promptly backed into a retaining wall.
But they didn't say anything, and I never got charged for it, so.....

Wow. I'd say you're lucky you didn't get a nice little bill with your rental!

She didn't get the memo that the price was supposed to drop

I hate it when that happens.

I'm a sucker for lemonade. I looooooove Disney's frozen lemonade.

Love frozen lemonade.
Soooo good.

That's just weird.

Consider the source, though.

Well, that's unfortunate.

<sigh> yeah...... Money well spent.



not.

Ok, at this point I started to giggle. Comedy of errors?

Great. Now pretty girls are laughing at me.
It was bad enough that they would point
and then run away.

This is what my experience in Atlanta was like. Terrifying. Which is why I made Joe drive when we went back.

My first experience with Atlanta.


1987.
My best friend and I decide to drive (non-stop) to Florida.
I'll drive at night. He'll drive during the day.
He's driving as we get close to Atlanta.
He wakes me up "Hey! Which way do I go! I can't look at the map!"
I groggily ask "Where are we?"
"Atlanta! Do I go East or West?"
I grab the map... and it's too late.
"Well, we always go East and South... So I'm going East!"

Whoops.

That was the long way around.
Added a few hours to the trip.

Pretty much par for the course though wasn't it?

I sure wish it'd been static-y the first night.
Then we could've avoided watching any of that movie.

I always have a heart attack when my dogs get loose. I see them running and instantly my brain lovingly provides me with images of the worst possible scenario. Luckily, Belle doesn't seem to be a bolter. She'll trot off down the street and play deaf for a few minutes, but normally I get her back by running away (shockingly, it really does work because she thinks it's a game). If that doesn't work, you bring out the turkey pepperoni and she's your best friend again.

Oh, I hear you... I hear you.
We'll let the dogs out... after making sure there are no cars around...
And then all of a sudden, Luna will start running all over the place...
just as a car shows up out of nowhere.

Heart attack. Every time.

I need to invest in some or those treats.

You sure you don't want to save money and drive? I mean, then you could just cut across the whole United States, go a little more north than you need, and stop in North Carolina.

Funny you should say that.
I would like to drive. I enjoy it.
Except, for just myself, it's cheaper
(by a lot) to fly.

Plus, I don't have the time to drive this time.

Otherwise... I definitely would!

I'd say I'd try to work in a short trip, but we have $0. Every spare cent we have is going towards the wedding. I will be happy when I no longer have to save anymore

I get that!

(or you could elope)


What? Did I say that out loud???

 

[pkondz]

Lol. Didn't it just finally get released in Canada over the weekend? With my dd, I pretty much had to do it.

Yep. And it's taken off like gangbusters.

But, y'know, we still have the Cubs. Maybe next year???

We came close this year.
(When I say "we". I mean everyone in Canada roots for the Jays....
when they're good.)

Pokemon go.

I'm half-heartedly playing

I didn't know that was possible!

So you'll always know my name?

Of course.

So I can stay in your room at Disney?

Sure!

And you'll buy my park tickets and meals too?

Hey. I'm putting you up. You've gotta pay for something!

 

[pkondz]

Of course I want to meet up! Glad to hear you found a way to get to Disney!

Great! I'll PM you? Or would FB or email be better?

 

[pkondz]

Yeah.... The longer our oldest has been in school, the more we take trips during the summer or school breaks, opposed to during school time. It's important not to miss much, if any, school anymore. Sometimes it moves too quickly and he misses some important stuff!

We took the DDs out of school in 2009.
We thought "It's the start of the year... what'll they miss?"

Just all the information that they'll need for the entire year.


Whoops!

Me too! I think we are going to try to shoot for next fall/winter. It would be a nice break from the weather, especially as it gets cooler!

We do have a trip planned for end of March, 2017... BUT It's not the same as a solo trip, or even one with just friends!

No, it's not.
But it is a trip!

 

[pkondz]

I will be at Disney from 9/11-9/18 so if any of you guys are meeting, I want in! We're doing a split stay with first half at POFQ and second half at Yacht Club.

I'll PM you in a bit!

I remember going to the Botanical Gardens and those parking ticket machines really stumped us too! I think a local had to help us.

So it's not just me! Thank goodness!

I remember my friend fuming about the high prices,

Your friend is right.

but there happened to be a huge topiary display going pn (I mean the topiaries were really gigantic) which was cool. It was also cool to see the Olympic Stadium across the street because I was a freshman in HS in 1976, so I remember watching those games on TV.

I don't remember if I watched or not.
I mean... I must have?
But I don't remember.
I know I was very aware of it, though.

 

[pkondz]

Glad that Luna seems to be doing OK. She is a little escape artist, isn't she, LOL

Oh, man. I still don't know how that leash came off.
She's getting tougher and tougher to keep from taking off.

So glad you will still get to go to WDW for a few days. And then the trip to Banff with Ruby, too, that's great, i have heard nice things about Banff, I would love to see it someday.

I'm really looking forward to both excursions.
Banff is really picturesque.
Which is why Ruby wants to go back.

Too bad you paid all that for parking and they were closed.

Yeah. I was not amused.

As far as a cruise goes, you will definitely find a better price on other cruise lines. There are some good ones out there, Celebrity being one of the best, pricier than other ones but still cheaper than Disney. Royal Caribbean is good, too. I have been on Carnival and Celebrity the most and then one each on NCL, RCCL and Princess. I would recommend any of them except maybe Carnival, I would do them again, but I would definitely pick another line first. That all being said I REALLY want to try a Disney cruise. From what I have heard they still have that little extra something that makes cruising so special now that it seems now is missing a lot of the time.

Thanks for the info.
I've heard good things about NCL in particular. I may take a peak there.
But I do know what you're saying about DCL.
I just don't know about the Character part of it.
Neither Ruby nor I are into the characters.