After opening presents, we finally headed upstairs for dinner (probably around 8:30 or so). I look forward to this dinner all year. Why? Because my mom makes some killer prime rib. Sides come and go, but the prime rib is always the star of the show. We had a minor issue during the cooking process this year that led to opening some windows to dissipate some smoke, but all's well that ends well, right?
We sat down to a fabulous dinner of prime rib, Yorkshire pudding, Brussels sprouts, baby red potatoes and a tomato dish with fresh mozzarella. A few minutes into the meal, I had a plate full of amazing food and was about to dig in when my mom reached for something and knocked over her glass. Her champagne drink landed all over the right side of my lap. Mom started apologizing and Dad started working on clean up. In the meantime, I was told not to move, so I sat there, a little cold and wet, and waited. Meanwhile, Hubby and Mam-maw were trying to situate the rest of the food on the table when my rum & coke got bumped and promptly spilled all over the left side of my lap. What did I do? The only thing I could. I laughed. I laughed hysterically. Dad told me to go change, so I put on pajama pants and a dirty shirt (just in case) and headed back up to dinner. The rest of the meal was largely uneventful, but it was tasty and wonderful and I was happy (and dry).
After we cleaned up a bit, we headed downstairs to finish off the evening. When everyone else had headed to bed, Hubby and I grabbed the puppers and headed over to pick up K to go through the local light display. Finally, a tradition that we could uphold! We went through twice, just because, and though it was short, it was nice to spend some more time with K. I slept a little better that night (probably because I started on the couch, instead of the floor), but morning still came too early for my liking.
Per our family tradition, Christmas morning is for Santa presents, so I handed out stockings and gifts for everyone (except the pooch; she'd already gotten all of her gifts). I got some fun socks and more puzzles (yay!!), and Hubby seemed happy with his new wallet and the sweet mouse shaped like a race car. There was little time to relax, though, as Mom's family was due over around two. After a quick shower and some setting up, we had a few minutes to breathe before the madness.
I should explain that I love my family to pieces. I don't mean to say that the madness was a bad thing. I'm just an introvert, and a group that big (all 14 or so of us) in one house (or sometimes in one room - eep!) can be a bit much for me. I tried to help Mom as much as I could (and as much as she'd let me), but there's only so much I could do in the kitchen with her. Around 2:30 or so we opened presents, and though the adults don't get much, I really liked what I did get. The ornaments that my cousin's kids helped make were adorable, and the hand warmers that my aunt made are perfect for shaking off a chill while I'm working. And, of course, the money from my Grampa is always appreciated. This year, we're using most of our Christmas money to go on a mini vacation up in Door County, just Hubby, the puppers and me. No work, no school, just us and a little cabin and whatever we want to do. :)
Even though she had cleaned the oven to prevent it, Mom had another cooking incident that led to windows and doors getting opened. This one was even smokier than Christmas Eve, and when Dad opened the garage door to get some air moving through, we definitely felt it downstairs. Even so, dinner was fantastic. Mom made a HUGE turkey (24 pounds!), lots of stuffing, potatoes, etc. We had left over salad and cheese from the funeral, one of my aunts brought rolls, my cousin brought green bean casserole, and with the massive amounts of cookies in the house, I strongly doubt anyone left hungry.
After dinner, my cousin's kids wanted to play a game, so we played Words With Friends. Yep. They have a board game edition now. Picture Scrabble with a slightly smaller board, some differences in point assignments by letter, and change where the extra score points are. There you have it. We played with partners, for the most part. Me not so much, since Hubby sat on the couch and my aunt decided we were too mean to play with. We didn't keep score, but we still had fun.
By around 7 o'clock, it was back to the 5 of us (plus Maxi). We spent a little time chatting and unwinding from the day, but Hubby and I still had to drive back to Milwaukee, so we couldn't stay too long. The drive home wasn't too bad (at least I assume; I was sleeping for most of it). We got the car unpacked, but not much more. I was pretty tired, so I lounged a bit before heading to bed. Then it was lights out for Miss Riki.
Working the day after Christmas is always a bum deal, but at least it was mostly quiet. I still have some wrapping to do, since my Hubby's family Christmas is tomorrow, but at least I'm not helping to host anything else. As wonderful of a holiday as it was, I need a break from all that. In fact, tonight I plan to be my introverted self and enjoy some me time while Hubby goes to the cigar bar to use one of his gifts. :)
Hope you all had a great holiday, and that 2013 begins a new year with lots of love, health and happiness. <3
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Friday, December 28, 2012
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Christmas 2012: We Survived (Part 1)
Not the Mayan apocalypse; I already planned on surviving that. But the rest of the holiday, I just wasn't sure.
Let's go back to last Wednesday, the 19th. Things were going fine until I got a call from my mom. She had three things to tell me, and none of them were terribly positive.
The first was that because of the snow Madison was about to get on Thursday, no one was going to be able to pick my Grampa up from the airport here in Milwaukee. OK, no big deal, we can handle that. Mom booked him a hotel room (we don't have a proper guest room, and I doubt Grampa wanted to sleep on our sleeper sofa or the futon) and all we had to do was pick him up when his flight landed on Thursday around 3:50. Sweet. Sad that Grampa would have to spend the night in a hotel in MKE, but at least we could help.
The second was that Mam-maw (my dad's mom) - who is staying with my parents right now - had gotten in on the 15th, but had already been in the hospital. Ugh. She was dehydrated and sick, but fortunately my dad was able to go pick her up that afternoon and take her back to their house. Again, not good that she was sick, but good that she was being released.
The third had no up-side. My aunt's husband (my uncle through marriage) had been in a car accident and had died. That one made my heart ache. My aunt is one of the nicest, sweetest people you could know (a lot like Mom) and to know something so terrible had happened made the world seem wrong. Even worse was when I found articles online about the accident; it wasn't really a car wreck, it was a "freak accident" that killed him. There are so many questions that might never get answered, and I'm afraid the hurt will stick around for a long, long time.
On Thursday, the snow storm hit Madison, but we only got rain here for most of the day. Regardless, Grampa's flight ended up getting canceled, and Mom had to make arrangements for him to stay at the airport in Orlando and to get another flight booked (which meant Mom was on hold for almost an hour and a half). After my lunch break, Hubby asked me to check our basement for flooding, since a coworker of his was having some issues. I ran downstairs to check, didn't find any water, and came back to work, only to find that my internet was out. Poor Hubby spent about 2 hours trying to help me troubleshoot (via text and phone call), but to no avail. He called our provider, but they couldn't get out to the house until 2 PM on Friday. Great. There goes the rest of my work week.
Even better was when the guy came and figure out what had happened. Our internet amplifier is in the basement and, for whatever reason, is hooked up to a light switch in the back room. (See where this is going?) When I had gone down to check on the flooding situation, I had flipped the switch, but when nothing happened, I assumed the bulb was out and I just moved on. Instead, I had essentially turned off our connection. (Insert facepalm here.) Thankfully, it turned out that had been only part of the problem; we also had a cable that had gone bad, and had he not figured that out, I might've gone insane trying to make our internet work on my desktop. Aye yi yi.
On the plus side, I got to spend Friday wrapping presents and finishing up crafts. I watched a couple of movies on demand (Mr. Poppers Penguins was pretty sweet) and cleaned some things up a bit. That cleared up some time on Saturday, which means I had time to make all 3 kinds of cookies I'd set out to bake. I made Oreo truffles, peppermint pinwheels, and meringue cookies with mini M&Ms (they were out of the dark chocolate and mint pieces by the time we went shopping). Unlike last year's meringue cookies, these didn't turn out to be globs of gooey messiness, so that was nice. And the Oreo truffles are kind of like crack (my dad told my family that the first one's free, but the rest are $20 each). And Mom really liked the pinwheels, which made me happy. Saturday evening, K got into town, and that night, she and S came by and we went out for dinner. I love having time with my sisters, and dinner was just what I needed.
Sunday we drove into Madison. Our original plan was to have our traditional dinner and gift exchange with K that night, but instead we went to my uncle's visitation and funeral. It was actually nice to spend some time with my family and it wasn't nearly as uncomfortable as I'd imagined (except for the chairs, which were terribly uncomfortable; Hubby's leg even went numb at one point). We also got to have some awesome Italian food after the service (thank you, Biaggi's!), some of which we got to take home as leftovers. That night, we had a fire in the family room and sat around to enjoy it, just Mom, Dad, Hubby, Mam-maw and I.
Christmas Eve Day meant more cookies! My mom made the traditional sugar cookie dough, and I rolled it out, used the cookie cutters and baked them up. While we let them sit, Hubby and I headed to grab some lunch (more Italian food; I'm not Italian, but I think my taste buds are) and then to the grocery store where K and S were ringing bells for the Salvation Army. Mom gave me $5 to donate (I give my money elsewhere) and we picked up some raisin bread for Mam-maw. When we got home, I made frosting and Hubby and I decorated the sugar cookies. We got to relax for a bit after that, and then eventually we opened presents (before dinner this year; another tradition broken). Hubby got me season 1 of Sherlock on DVD, Dumbo on blu-ray, and a couple other fun things. I also got a puzzle, a beautiful scarf, and we got a ginormous generator. Dad told us the idea was originally for camping, but that the unit he got was a bit bulkier than he anticipated, so we were given the option of keeping it or returning it to Gander Mountain and using the money for other camping stuff. (We're not 100% decided yet, but I think we're leaning toward returning it and getting a new tent and some other things.) Everyone seemed to be happy with their presents, and that's all I could really hope for.
More to come.
Let's go back to last Wednesday, the 19th. Things were going fine until I got a call from my mom. She had three things to tell me, and none of them were terribly positive.
The first was that because of the snow Madison was about to get on Thursday, no one was going to be able to pick my Grampa up from the airport here in Milwaukee. OK, no big deal, we can handle that. Mom booked him a hotel room (we don't have a proper guest room, and I doubt Grampa wanted to sleep on our sleeper sofa or the futon) and all we had to do was pick him up when his flight landed on Thursday around 3:50. Sweet. Sad that Grampa would have to spend the night in a hotel in MKE, but at least we could help.
The second was that Mam-maw (my dad's mom) - who is staying with my parents right now - had gotten in on the 15th, but had already been in the hospital. Ugh. She was dehydrated and sick, but fortunately my dad was able to go pick her up that afternoon and take her back to their house. Again, not good that she was sick, but good that she was being released.
The third had no up-side. My aunt's husband (my uncle through marriage) had been in a car accident and had died. That one made my heart ache. My aunt is one of the nicest, sweetest people you could know (a lot like Mom) and to know something so terrible had happened made the world seem wrong. Even worse was when I found articles online about the accident; it wasn't really a car wreck, it was a "freak accident" that killed him. There are so many questions that might never get answered, and I'm afraid the hurt will stick around for a long, long time.
On Thursday, the snow storm hit Madison, but we only got rain here for most of the day. Regardless, Grampa's flight ended up getting canceled, and Mom had to make arrangements for him to stay at the airport in Orlando and to get another flight booked (which meant Mom was on hold for almost an hour and a half). After my lunch break, Hubby asked me to check our basement for flooding, since a coworker of his was having some issues. I ran downstairs to check, didn't find any water, and came back to work, only to find that my internet was out. Poor Hubby spent about 2 hours trying to help me troubleshoot (via text and phone call), but to no avail. He called our provider, but they couldn't get out to the house until 2 PM on Friday. Great. There goes the rest of my work week.
Even better was when the guy came and figure out what had happened. Our internet amplifier is in the basement and, for whatever reason, is hooked up to a light switch in the back room. (See where this is going?) When I had gone down to check on the flooding situation, I had flipped the switch, but when nothing happened, I assumed the bulb was out and I just moved on. Instead, I had essentially turned off our connection. (Insert facepalm here.) Thankfully, it turned out that had been only part of the problem; we also had a cable that had gone bad, and had he not figured that out, I might've gone insane trying to make our internet work on my desktop. Aye yi yi.
On the plus side, I got to spend Friday wrapping presents and finishing up crafts. I watched a couple of movies on demand (Mr. Poppers Penguins was pretty sweet) and cleaned some things up a bit. That cleared up some time on Saturday, which means I had time to make all 3 kinds of cookies I'd set out to bake. I made Oreo truffles, peppermint pinwheels, and meringue cookies with mini M&Ms (they were out of the dark chocolate and mint pieces by the time we went shopping). Unlike last year's meringue cookies, these didn't turn out to be globs of gooey messiness, so that was nice. And the Oreo truffles are kind of like crack (my dad told my family that the first one's free, but the rest are $20 each). And Mom really liked the pinwheels, which made me happy. Saturday evening, K got into town, and that night, she and S came by and we went out for dinner. I love having time with my sisters, and dinner was just what I needed.
Sunday we drove into Madison. Our original plan was to have our traditional dinner and gift exchange with K that night, but instead we went to my uncle's visitation and funeral. It was actually nice to spend some time with my family and it wasn't nearly as uncomfortable as I'd imagined (except for the chairs, which were terribly uncomfortable; Hubby's leg even went numb at one point). We also got to have some awesome Italian food after the service (thank you, Biaggi's!), some of which we got to take home as leftovers. That night, we had a fire in the family room and sat around to enjoy it, just Mom, Dad, Hubby, Mam-maw and I.
Christmas Eve Day meant more cookies! My mom made the traditional sugar cookie dough, and I rolled it out, used the cookie cutters and baked them up. While we let them sit, Hubby and I headed to grab some lunch (more Italian food; I'm not Italian, but I think my taste buds are) and then to the grocery store where K and S were ringing bells for the Salvation Army. Mom gave me $5 to donate (I give my money elsewhere) and we picked up some raisin bread for Mam-maw. When we got home, I made frosting and Hubby and I decorated the sugar cookies. We got to relax for a bit after that, and then eventually we opened presents (before dinner this year; another tradition broken). Hubby got me season 1 of Sherlock on DVD, Dumbo on blu-ray, and a couple other fun things. I also got a puzzle, a beautiful scarf, and we got a ginormous generator. Dad told us the idea was originally for camping, but that the unit he got was a bit bulkier than he anticipated, so we were given the option of keeping it or returning it to Gander Mountain and using the money for other camping stuff. (We're not 100% decided yet, but I think we're leaning toward returning it and getting a new tent and some other things.) Everyone seemed to be happy with their presents, and that's all I could really hope for.
More to come.
Friday, November 30, 2012
And so it ends
November, that is. So here we go.
Nov. 26 - I was thankful for...
Hot water.
It seems obvious, but sometimes I forget how lovely hot water can truly be. When it's cold out, and you get in the shower and it feels like a liquid blanket is covering you and you lose track of time and space for a bit... yeah, I love that.
Nov. 27 - I was thankful for...
My camera.
During the school year, I don't get to play with my camera as much as I'd like, which blows. Hard. But, when I do have time for it, my camera becomes a part of me. If my house was on fire, and I could only save one thing (assuming Maxine was able to get out, or Hubby got her), I'd probably grab my camera (and/or my wedding and engagement rings, assuming I wasn't wearing them). I know it can be replaced, but when it's not around, I feel lost. Even if I don't have a lot of time to use it, I like to know it's there when I have the time. It's like my security blanket with a lens. And I'm definitely thankful for that.
Nov. 28 - I was thankful for...
Comedy/Humor.
If you know me, you know I can have a dry, somewhat twisted sense of humor at times. Or most of the time. Whatever. The point is, I love humor. I love to laugh. I love witty banter and a sharp tongue. I love randomness. I love puns. I love slapstick. I just love it all, from the (mostly) innocent humor of Disney to the wildly inappropriate slams on Tosh.0.
If you've checked out my "That's Entertainment!" page, then you know that I love comedy and comedians, too. I've seen Second City, Capitol Steps, Daniel Tosh, Jeff Dunham, Bill Cosby and the Henson Alternative, and next on my wish list are Gabriel Iglesias (Fluffy) and Lewis Black. I just can't get enough! Laughter is, of course, the best medicine, and for that I'm thankful.
Nov. 29 - I was thankful for...
Delivery.
Sometimes, it's just nice to have your food brought straight to you. Yesterday we found out we won one of the 2 million free Papa John's pizzas, and since we were a bit low on funds (today is payday; woohoo!), we decided it was a sign. We felt bad about just ordering a free pizza, though, so we got some cheese sticks and Mountain Dew to go with it. It took forever to get here, but I figure that's the tradeoff we sometimes make so that we don't have to go out in search of food, leaving the warmth and comfort of our house.
Whether it's JJ's, pizza, Chinese, or whatever, I love having food delivered. We don't do it frequently, so it's a bit of a treat when food comes to me, instead of me going to it (or me/us having to prepare it). Paper plates and TV trays may not be classy, but there's something satisfying about it anyway. Plus, no dishes to clean. Booya. Definitely thankful for that (as I'm sure Hubby is, too)!
Nov. 30 - I am thankful for...
Me.
I guess that might sound weird, but I'm coming to like the person that I am. I'm nowhere near perfect, and I still get self conscious pretty easily, but I'm smart and fun, and I'm a fairly capable person when it comes to my job, school, or whatever I really set my mind to. I've struggled a lot with self-esteem issues, so to finally be settling in and accepting who I am is sort of a big deal for me. And it feels a lot better than disliking myself or trying to constantly change to be what I think I should be. I'm thankful for that, and for everyone and everything who has helped me get here.
So, there you have it. 30 days of things I'm thankful for. Phew! :)
Nov. 26 - I was thankful for...
Hot water.
It seems obvious, but sometimes I forget how lovely hot water can truly be. When it's cold out, and you get in the shower and it feels like a liquid blanket is covering you and you lose track of time and space for a bit... yeah, I love that.
Nov. 27 - I was thankful for...
My camera.
During the school year, I don't get to play with my camera as much as I'd like, which blows. Hard. But, when I do have time for it, my camera becomes a part of me. If my house was on fire, and I could only save one thing (assuming Maxine was able to get out, or Hubby got her), I'd probably grab my camera (and/or my wedding and engagement rings, assuming I wasn't wearing them). I know it can be replaced, but when it's not around, I feel lost. Even if I don't have a lot of time to use it, I like to know it's there when I have the time. It's like my security blanket with a lens. And I'm definitely thankful for that.
Nov. 28 - I was thankful for...
Comedy/Humor.
If you know me, you know I can have a dry, somewhat twisted sense of humor at times. Or most of the time. Whatever. The point is, I love humor. I love to laugh. I love witty banter and a sharp tongue. I love randomness. I love puns. I love slapstick. I just love it all, from the (mostly) innocent humor of Disney to the wildly inappropriate slams on Tosh.0.
If you've checked out my "That's Entertainment!" page, then you know that I love comedy and comedians, too. I've seen Second City, Capitol Steps, Daniel Tosh, Jeff Dunham, Bill Cosby and the Henson Alternative, and next on my wish list are Gabriel Iglesias (Fluffy) and Lewis Black. I just can't get enough! Laughter is, of course, the best medicine, and for that I'm thankful.
Nov. 29 - I was thankful for...
Delivery.
Sometimes, it's just nice to have your food brought straight to you. Yesterday we found out we won one of the 2 million free Papa John's pizzas, and since we were a bit low on funds (today is payday; woohoo!), we decided it was a sign. We felt bad about just ordering a free pizza, though, so we got some cheese sticks and Mountain Dew to go with it. It took forever to get here, but I figure that's the tradeoff we sometimes make so that we don't have to go out in search of food, leaving the warmth and comfort of our house.
Whether it's JJ's, pizza, Chinese, or whatever, I love having food delivered. We don't do it frequently, so it's a bit of a treat when food comes to me, instead of me going to it (or me/us having to prepare it). Paper plates and TV trays may not be classy, but there's something satisfying about it anyway. Plus, no dishes to clean. Booya. Definitely thankful for that (as I'm sure Hubby is, too)!
Nov. 30 - I am thankful for...
Me.
I guess that might sound weird, but I'm coming to like the person that I am. I'm nowhere near perfect, and I still get self conscious pretty easily, but I'm smart and fun, and I'm a fairly capable person when it comes to my job, school, or whatever I really set my mind to. I've struggled a lot with self-esteem issues, so to finally be settling in and accepting who I am is sort of a big deal for me. And it feels a lot better than disliking myself or trying to constantly change to be what I think I should be. I'm thankful for that, and for everyone and everything who has helped me get here.
So, there you have it. 30 days of things I'm thankful for. Phew! :)
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Weekend Thanks
Since next to no one is reading these anyway, I figure I'll just catch up at my own pace. Ahhh, the joys of being lazy.
Nov. 24 - On Saturday, I was thankful for...
Small businesses.
Hubby and I went Small Business Saturday shopping for the first year, and absolutely loved it. We headed up to Cedarburg (just north of Milwaukee), where we knew there was an adorable downtown shopping area that we'd been meaning to get to. We were not disappointed.
We checked out a few stores, including a bike shop (Hubby's an addict, I swear), a toy store (where everything was made either locally or at least in the U.S.) and Penzey's (the spice place). We also got to eat lunch at a really cute pizzeria (they had Sprecher root beer on tap... YUM!!), where we got to warm up for awhile. On our way back south, we stopped at a cheese shop and got some delicious cheese* to take home (a 10-year cheddar and a really unique cheese that's sort of a combination cheddar and bleu cheese). We've eaten their cheese before, since they're always at Zoo Brew, but this was our first visit to their store. Again, we were NOT disappointed.
It was good to see people out and about supporting local businesses. We got some Christmas presents knocked off our list and managed to get a few things for ourselves. Most of all, we had a really nice day together, and for that, I'm definitely thankful.
*Maxi thought so, too. In fact, she stole some of our cheese. While we were sitting there. Little jerk.
Nov. 25 - I was thankful for...
My parents.
Growing up, I was as much of a Daddy's Girl as you could be. When I hit my pre-teens, I started fighting with my mom, and eventually pushed them both away (because they clearly had no idea what it was like to be me... or something...). Even after I graduated from high school, things were not pretty. It took me actually becoming a functioning adult to realize what an ass I'd been.
These days, I love visiting my parents. My mom is one of the most patient and loving people you'll ever meet, and my dad is a smart, funny guy. And they both love me and are proud of who I've become. I'm ultimately thankful that they never gave up on me and that they helped make me who I am now.
Nov. 24 - On Saturday, I was thankful for...
Small businesses.
Hubby and I went Small Business Saturday shopping for the first year, and absolutely loved it. We headed up to Cedarburg (just north of Milwaukee), where we knew there was an adorable downtown shopping area that we'd been meaning to get to. We were not disappointed.
We checked out a few stores, including a bike shop (Hubby's an addict, I swear), a toy store (where everything was made either locally or at least in the U.S.) and Penzey's (the spice place). We also got to eat lunch at a really cute pizzeria (they had Sprecher root beer on tap... YUM!!), where we got to warm up for awhile. On our way back south, we stopped at a cheese shop and got some delicious cheese* to take home (a 10-year cheddar and a really unique cheese that's sort of a combination cheddar and bleu cheese). We've eaten their cheese before, since they're always at Zoo Brew, but this was our first visit to their store. Again, we were NOT disappointed.
It was good to see people out and about supporting local businesses. We got some Christmas presents knocked off our list and managed to get a few things for ourselves. Most of all, we had a really nice day together, and for that, I'm definitely thankful.
*Maxi thought so, too. In fact, she stole some of our cheese. While we were sitting there. Little jerk.
Nov. 25 - I was thankful for...
My parents.
Growing up, I was as much of a Daddy's Girl as you could be. When I hit my pre-teens, I started fighting with my mom, and eventually pushed them both away (because they clearly had no idea what it was like to be me... or something...). Even after I graduated from high school, things were not pretty. It took me actually becoming a functioning adult to realize what an ass I'd been.
These days, I love visiting my parents. My mom is one of the most patient and loving people you'll ever meet, and my dad is a smart, funny guy. And they both love me and are proud of who I've become. I'm ultimately thankful that they never gave up on me and that they helped make me who I am now.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Football, Friends and Food
Nov. 18 - On Sunday, I was thankful for...
(Packers) Football season.
Since Hubby was gone hunting this weekend, it was just me and the puppers in the house. Once I got done with homework, there were few options for things to do. I took a nap. I played on the PS3. I read. I played with my puzzle.
I got bored.
And then it was time for football. Hallelujah!
Football season doesn't just get me through the day when Hubby's gone; it's a family affair at our house when he's home. The three of us (yes, that includes Maxine) wear our jerseys, grab some snacks, and curl up on the couch to cheer on the Packers whenever they play. It's one of my favorite family activities, and it even comes with its own traditions (like double high fives for touch downs, a tradition I learned from my parents). A win means a good week ahead; a loss means grumbling, outrage, and moments of panic (unless we're already doing terribly, in which case, not really any need for panic). I always hope that we'll make it to the post-season, not just for the glory, but also because it means a longer football season! :)
As long the Packers are playing, I am thankful for football season. When they aren't playing... well, there's only so many months until spring training for baseball! ;)
Nov. 19 - Yesterday, I was thankful for...
My friends.
Normally I would write a long, gushy post about how much my friends mean to me and how they're always around when I need them, blah blah blah. But instead, I'm going to keep this shorter and more to the point.
I'm thankful that my friends understand what I brat I can be, and don't hold it against me that I don't make phone calls and prefer to talk online or in person. I'm thankful that my friends make me laugh and let me cry. I'm thankful that they're as weird as I am and don't get scared off when I say something crazy. I'm thankful that my friends are all different and that I can learn so many things from each of them.
Mostly, though, I'm thankful for who they are and how they make me feel like a better person, just by having them in my life. Thanks to you all. <3
Nov. 20 - Today I am thankful for...
Food.
If you know me, you know I love food. (You don't get this physique from not loving food.) And what's not to love? It keeps us alive, happy and (somewhat) healthy. And not everyone has access to it like I'm fortunate enough to. Too frequently I take for granted that I don't have to worry about where my next meal will come from or when I'll be able to get food again.
Preparing food can be a lot of fun, and so can shopping for it (I always grocery shop with Hubby, and we make it fun). Going out to eat, ordering in, carrying out, or making it yourself all have different benefits and are all different ways to experience food. We have it at celebrations, we have it when mourning. It can calm our stomachs, or make us think we'll never eat again (you know, when you feel like Violet from Willy Wonka and someone damn near has to roll you out of the room). We have favorites, and we have things we won't touch with a 10-foot pole. The options are seemingly endless, and finding a perfect pairing or an unexpected new favorite makes our mouths, minds, and stomachs happy campers.
So, for all that (and more reasons, I'm sure), I am thankful for food. Om nom nom!
(Packers) Football season.
Since Hubby was gone hunting this weekend, it was just me and the puppers in the house. Once I got done with homework, there were few options for things to do. I took a nap. I played on the PS3. I read. I played with my puzzle.
I got bored.
And then it was time for football. Hallelujah!
Football season doesn't just get me through the day when Hubby's gone; it's a family affair at our house when he's home. The three of us (yes, that includes Maxine) wear our jerseys, grab some snacks, and curl up on the couch to cheer on the Packers whenever they play. It's one of my favorite family activities, and it even comes with its own traditions (like double high fives for touch downs, a tradition I learned from my parents). A win means a good week ahead; a loss means grumbling, outrage, and moments of panic (unless we're already doing terribly, in which case, not really any need for panic). I always hope that we'll make it to the post-season, not just for the glory, but also because it means a longer football season! :)
As long the Packers are playing, I am thankful for football season. When they aren't playing... well, there's only so many months until spring training for baseball! ;)
Nov. 19 - Yesterday, I was thankful for...
My friends.
Normally I would write a long, gushy post about how much my friends mean to me and how they're always around when I need them, blah blah blah. But instead, I'm going to keep this shorter and more to the point.
I'm thankful that my friends understand what I brat I can be, and don't hold it against me that I don't make phone calls and prefer to talk online or in person. I'm thankful that my friends make me laugh and let me cry. I'm thankful that they're as weird as I am and don't get scared off when I say something crazy. I'm thankful that my friends are all different and that I can learn so many things from each of them.
Mostly, though, I'm thankful for who they are and how they make me feel like a better person, just by having them in my life. Thanks to you all. <3
Nov. 20 - Today I am thankful for...
Food.
If you know me, you know I love food. (You don't get this physique from not loving food.) And what's not to love? It keeps us alive, happy and (somewhat) healthy. And not everyone has access to it like I'm fortunate enough to. Too frequently I take for granted that I don't have to worry about where my next meal will come from or when I'll be able to get food again.
Preparing food can be a lot of fun, and so can shopping for it (I always grocery shop with Hubby, and we make it fun). Going out to eat, ordering in, carrying out, or making it yourself all have different benefits and are all different ways to experience food. We have it at celebrations, we have it when mourning. It can calm our stomachs, or make us think we'll never eat again (you know, when you feel like Violet from Willy Wonka and someone damn near has to roll you out of the room). We have favorites, and we have things we won't touch with a 10-foot pole. The options are seemingly endless, and finding a perfect pairing or an unexpected new favorite makes our mouths, minds, and stomachs happy campers.
So, for all that (and more reasons, I'm sure), I am thankful for food. Om nom nom!
Friday, March 23, 2012
The Race Home
Saturday morning marked our last few hours of Disney magic. We woke up, packed up and went to put things in the car for the long drive home. Hubby pointed out that it was a little sad going past Bestie and C's room, knowing they weren't there anymore, and I had to agree. After one last sweep of the room, we closed the door behind us for the last time and headed for the car. I finally broke down crying.
"We'll be back, hon..."
"I know. It's not even that. I'm just gonna miss [Bestie] so much. I didn't realize just how much I missed her..."
I managed to stop crying long enough to get in the car and head to the resort's food court for breakfast (yay for Mickey waffles!). After a brief stop at the gift shop (where I got my Haunted Mansion pins that Hubby had promised I could get), it was goodbye Disney, hello 20+ hours of driving!
We hadn't decided yet if we were going to stop somewhere for the night or just drive through. On the one hand, sleep is good and we knew we'd be tired at some point. On the other hand, if we weren't home by noon on Sunday to pick up the puppers, we wouldn't be able to get her until Monday! It was a conundrum for sure.
Hubby drove the first couple hours, and then handed the wheel off to me so he could get a nap and do some of the later driving. Unfortunately, this resulted in me driving through Atlanta, which was not on my list of things I wanted to do. It wasn't actually terrible, but we did hit some traffic, and in a stick, stop-and-go is never fun.
The one thing we had to look forward to was the Marietta Diner. We had decided that we wanted to try to stop at a restaurant along our trip that had been on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. Lo and behold, the Marietta Diner was along our route, so we made it a plan. The place was packed when we pulled in, but the wait only ended up being about 20 minutes. The worst part of the wait, I'm sad to say, wasn't that I had to pee or that I was so hungry I thought my stomach was eating itself. Nope, the worst part was the Girl Scouts.
I hate to admit that, because I am a Girl Scout! But these girls were nuts. They were Brownies (those brown sashes give it away every time), so they were younger girls, and they were selling cookies outside the diner. When we approached the door, one of the little girls drawled, "Wanna buy some Girl Scout cookies?" We politely declined and went to stand around and wait. A second girl came and asked us, "Wanna buy some cookies?" and again, we declined. At that point, I noticed that one of the girls was opening the door to the restaurant, jumping onto it, and riding it as it closed, all the while yelling, "Girl Scout cookies! Get some Girl Scout cookies!" The rest of the girls were running up and down the crowd, trying to peddle those damn cookies to anyone they could find.
I have respect for Girl Scouts doing booth sales, I really do, but these girls didn't make me want to buy cookies. They made me glad I didn't have children. They made me seriously happy when our name was called. But they did not make me want to help them out.
Anywhoozles, Marietta Diner has one of the biggest menus I've ever seen, and picking something for dinner was way more difficult than I had anticipated. I ultimately chose a chicken parmigiana sub, which was delicious, but I only ate about half because the real thing I was after was dessert. Marietta Diner has desserts up the wazoo. For real, it's nuts! We had a HUGE slice of peanut butter chocolate pie (with Reese's on it, of course) that we couldn't even finish between the two of us! We had noticed everyone who left had a bag with leftovers, and we were no exception.
It was at that point that we really decided that we were going for it: we were going to drive straight through the night. We took turns driving and had to stop at a few rest areas to get out and wake up a bit, but eventually we made it. We got to the place Maxi was being boarded around 7 AM, but they didn't open until 9. We headed home to take a two hour nap before we went back to pick her up.
As long as the drive was, it was worth it when we got to see our puppers again. We had missed her something awful, and I'm sure she missed us, too. Vacation was over, and soon it would be back to work and school and all that reality bullshit, but there's something satisfying about being home again and sleeping in your own bed that somehow makes it OK.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
One Last Magical Day
Sorry for the delay, folks. I'm finally over whatever sickness it was that I had (we're thinking it was Strep, but I don't know for sure because I've never had it before), which means I've been furiously catching up with work, homework, and housework. Doing pretty well on the first two, but our house still looks like a disaster zone. Eh, we'll let this one go Meatloaf style (2 out of 3 ain't bad!).
So, Friday the 9th was our last day of Disney. We decided to try and make it as epic as humanly possible and our goal was to head to Downtown Disney for a few hours before spending the whole rest of the day at MK (minus our reservations for dinner at 'Ohana).
Downtown Disney isn't really a park so much as it is its own little town. There are three parts to DD, but we really only ventured through the Marketplace on this trip. The Marketplace, as its name implies, is full of shopping. There's a Lego store, a store dedicated to Christmas ornaments, another art store and, best of all, the World of Disney. World of Disney is sort of like an entire mini-mall of Disney stuff. They have clothes, toys, jewelry, kitchen stuff, food, books, movies, music... I could go on and on. Essentially, if you want it, they have it (with the exception of my puzzle; I'm not saying they didn't have it, necessarily, but I sure didn't find it there, and I looked HARD).
While at Downtown Disney, my only true goal was to go to Wetzel's Pretzels. You see, my last name is Hetzel (my married name, anyway), and I was determined to get a picture with Hubby and caption it "Hetzels Eating Wetzel's Pretzels." Perfect, right? The pretzels were delicious, and Bestie did snap a photo for us, though I have yet to see it. My secondary goal was to get some good shopping in, since we were heading back to the resort before we went to MK.
I may have gone a little nuts, but thankfully, we had saved up for this trip and Hubby is good to me. :) I got Mickey ears that light up with fireworks, a picture frame, a Wall-E and Eve ornament (Hubby and I like to get ornaments whenever we go on a trip together; might've been inspired by Bestie and her hubby), a Cheshire Cat antennae topper, a Jungle Cruise glass and a t-shirt for hubby! Woohoo!
While we didn't get over to Pleasure Island or West Side on this trip, it was still a successful trip. While we waited for the bus, I asked Hubby if he had any money, as I was eying up the vending machine. He said he only had two dollars, but that the pop cost $2.75. It just so happened that I had grabbed 3 quarters from our change at the hotel that morning, so I figured it was fate. I went and bought a Coke and just as I took a step away from the machine, a second Coke dropped out. Cautiously, I grabbed the second bottle and as I walked away, a THIRD bottle dropped! Holy cow, man! I hit the Coke machine lottery!
Standing there with three bottles in my hands (and a confused look on my face, I'm sure), I said, "Would anyone like a Coke?" A man in front of me shrugged and put out his hand. He and his wife split it, and his wife was very thankful (she wanted to get something to drink before her kids insisted on sharing it). I gave the other bottle to Bestie and C, and we all agreed that it was bound to be a good day.
It sprinkled on us a bit at the bus stop, but eventually our bus came and whisked us away. After a short break at the resort, it was off to MK! The order of events is probably a bit off, but that afternoon, we did:
- The Monsters Inc Laugh floor - Like Turtle Talk with Crush, this is an interactive attraction that's bound to entertain you, no matter what age.
- The People Mover - A slow, gentle ride that guides you through some of Tomorrowland.
- Carousel of Progress - If you're ready to just sit in the dark for a bit, this is a perfect stop. Just be warned that you will leave with a song stuck in your head. "There's a great, big, beautiful tomorrow..."
- Space Mountain - Only Bestie and I braved this one, but it was a blast! I hadn't been on it since I was 17, and having Bestie giggling in the seat behind me the whole way made the ride that much better.
- Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe - A pretty fun quick service restaurant. There are 3 "bays" to choose from; one serves primarily chicken entrees, another is strictly burgers and the last is random sandwiches. While you eat, you're serenaded by Sonny Eclipse, an alien lounge singer that looks sort of like a dinosaur with a bad hair piece.
Eventually, it was close to dinner time, and we took the boat over to the Polynesian resort. 'Ohana was the first place we ate on our honeymoon, so it was sort of fitting that it was the last Disney dining experience we'd really have on this trip. As we promised Bestie and C, there was food galore. Starting with coconut-pineapple bread, the food just keeps coming every 5-10 minutes or so. There's a salad, pot stickers, chicken wings, veggies, lo mein noodles, and eventually some of the best meat you'll ever eat. On ginormous skewers, Cast Members bring around shrimp, pork, beef and chicken, and slide it onto your plate so you can chow down without ever getting up.
Dessert is an amazing bread pudding with caramelized banana sauce, served a la mode, but Bestie also got us some ice cream to celebrate (C had gotten a promotion while we were on vacay, and I had joined a national honor society just before we left for FL). By the end, we were seriously stuffed.
We wandered down to the beach to watch Wishes from across the water, then checked out the beautiful art store at the Polynesian. When we took the boat back to MK, we were the only 4 people aboard. Our captain was very friendly and knowledgeable, sharing with us that Cinderella's Castle is 189 feet tall. Why not 190? Because air space guidelines require that you put one of those red blinky lights on structures that tall, and Walt didn't want to have that take away from the magic. :)
On our way in, we caught the Main Street Electrical Parade, which I don't think I've ever seen before in its entirety. After that, I know we did Splash Mountain (which was just as fun as I remembered) and one last time on the Haunted Mansion. We also tried to hunt down some more ice cream for Bestie, but we were SOL. Boooooo.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Best Thursday Ever.
So, as you can see, by Thursday of our trip, we had been to each park at least once. Whatever will we do??
Oh, right. Go back for more! Wooooo!
Thursday morning we had early breakfast reservations at Chef Mickey's, which is at the Contemporary resort. Since we weren't sure we'd be able to catch a bus that would get us over there by 8:05, we decided to drive. We piled into Bestie and C's rental car and were greeted at the parking lot by a lovely British man. Bestie and I agreed that he had the best accent ever and we wanted to take him with us, but alas, it wasn't to be.
The Contemporary, unlike Caribbean Beach or even Coronado Springs (where Hubby and I stayed for our honeymoon), is all indoors. Once we got in, it was escalators ahoy! They have the really skinny ones, so we had to go up single file (suddenly I'm thinking we should've pulled a Brady Bunch and started singing...).
Once we got checked in, it wasn't too long of a wait to get seated (it may have felt like forever because we were hungry and could smell food). Bestie and C hadn't been there before (or, at least not for breakfast; I can't remember for sure), but Hubby and I were seasoned pros at this point (er, yeah... after having been there once... a year and a half ago... whatever). I loaded down my first plate with every tasty thing I could find: fruit, cottage cheese, breakfast pizza, bacon, croissants, and - best of all - grits.
I may be a yankee (Wisco born and raised!), but dammit, I have southern blood running through my veins, and you just cannot get good grits in the north (with the exception of Cracker Barrel; they do a pretty good job). So when I find them, I go nuts. My second trip up to the buffet was for a doughnut and a bowl full of grits. Nom nom nom. (In case you care, I'm a butter and salt kind of gal; I take after my daddy.) By the time we left, I probably had grits coming out of my ears, but I was happy as a clam!
Chef Mickey's, like Tusker House, is character dining, so we had Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald and Pluto all stop by our table to say hi! Bestie wanted pictures with them all, so I took on camera duty. I told her it wasn't a problem, but that I wouldn't be getting up for any pictures because I had food, and nothing was coming between me and my food (particularly my grits). Thankfully, I have a bestie who wasn't in the least bit offended, and was just happy I was willing to take pictures for her. :)
After breakfast, we decided to take a ride on the monorail, since it comes through the Contemporary (yep, through it). We hopped on and just rode that darn thing around in a loop! From the Contemporary, your next stop is the TTC (Ticketing and Transportation Centre). Then it's on to the Grand Floridian and the Polynesian. Last stop is Magic Kingdom, and then you're back at the Contemporary!
We drove the car back to our resort, and then after a short break, hopped a bus to Animal Kingdom. As we were approaching, I went to grab my Key to the World and... uh... Crap! It wasn't where it was supposed to be. I freaked out, but Bestie, ever the optimist and Disney queen, just suggested we go to Guest Relations to see what they could do. A few questions later (my resort, where I'm from, etc) and I had a brand new card. Phew!
Our main goal was to hit up the Dinosaur ride, since we had missed it earlier in the week, but we started by checking out some nature trails along the way. Once we got to Dinosaur, Hubby opted out, but C hadn't been on it before, so the 3 of us headed onward. I, for one, love this ride. 1) I've always had a thing for dinosaurs. Blame my dad. 2) On my honeymoon, I totally realized that it was Hodges from CSI that does the intro and voice! 3) I know when the picture is coming up, so I can be properly prepared with a thumbs up.
The rest of the AK experience is a bit of a blur. I don't think we did any more rides, but we did go check out the nature trails in Asia. We got to see flying foxes, tigers, and all sorts of animals just hanging around. I had to go see my hippos on the nature trail, so Hubby and I left C and Bestie to sit and chill while we hoofed it through the African jungle so I could visit my hippo friends. Thankfully, they were being pretty playful, and kept swimming past the window. It's murky, and there are a TON of fish in there, but it's cool to see it anyway. Especially when they seem to be playing tag or follow the leader, and both wander past!
I think that's about all we did (except for getting more frozen Coke/other pop; that was something we did at least once a day) at AK, and soon it was off to Epcot. Our first goal was to find lunch, so we headed toward the World Showcase. Upon entering Epcot, we found the Flower and Garden Festival in full swing. There were flowers and plants everywhere! And the topiaries were insane... It was just beautiful.
We had lunch at the Cantina de San Angel, which is a quick service restaurant in Mexico that serves tacos and nachos. Getting a table was INSANE at this place, and the food was only so-so (although, I did really enjoy my cantaloupe popsicle!) so I don't know if I'd go back again, but I'm glad we had the experience. :)
We wandered from country to country for hours, with my only real goal being to visit the wall of Pocky in Japan. (OK, it's actually just a wall of candy and snacks, but there's a whole section of Pocky and it was calling my name.) We ended up getting some really delicious ice cream in France (go figure) while Bestie looked desperately for the magic rose. Sadly, we couldn't find it. Our best guess is that it's going to be a part of the new Beauty & The Beast restaurant (soon to come!) and that it's just not on display until then.
At some point I got my Pocky (and a bottle of watermelon Ramune; love that stuff!), and we encountered the Canada pavilion where a band was playing in kilts (the band name was Off Kilter - is that not hysterical?!). It was a bit of a mindf*ck, so we stopped and watched for a minute or two. We also stopped in at The Art of Disney, where they have AMAZING artwork to drool over.
One of the funniest things that happened, happened while I was in the bathroom right around England. There was a little boy standing there with his grandmother (mom was in a stall) and he was holding her hand, jumping up and down chanting, "Monorail! Monorail! Monorail!" (Not like The Simpsons; more like a little kid excited for ice cream or a pony ride.) From in the stall his mom says, "I spend the money, get the kids down here to Disney World, where they can do anything and what does my son want to do? The Monorail..." She didn't sound annoyed or put out; I imagine she was smiling and shaking her head instead. I turned to the boy and told him that I rode the monorail this morning and it was pretty awesome, so I understood! :)
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Animal! Animal!
Hey, ho! Sicky McSickSick here! Ugh. I missed half a day of work yesterday and all of today (which, when you work from home, means you're either playing hooky or really effing miserable). My throat is in slightly less pain today, but, now I can't lie down without having a coughing fit, so, yeah. Fun!
Doesn't mean we can't continue our journey through Disney, right?
Our second full day (Tuesday, March 6th) was spent at the Animal Kingdom, quite possibly my favorite park! If you've never been, parts of it are like a ginormous zoo, except you don't usually have to look through cages and wires (with a few exceptions, of course). Other parts have rides, restaurants and shops like the other parks, and the whole thing is tied together by the magic of Disney.
We started at Tusker House for breakfast. It was our first time there, and I'm already thinking for our 5 year anniversary (the next Disney trip we're planning) that we should go back. Why? Two big reasons.
1) It's Character dining that counts as only 1 table service meal per person (Cinderella's Royal Table was similar with the princesses, but it "costs" 2 table service meals per person). You start by taking a picture with Donald (in his safari gear, of course) and then upon being seated, you can see Mickey, Minnie, Daisy and Goofy all making their rounds (and yes, they WILL stop at your table!). Too fun!
2) It's a ginormous buffet. For reals. Bagels, fresh fruit, eggs, bacon, doughnuts, croissants, ham, quiche, and more await you, and for a 9:30 AM reservation, it really wasn't the madhouse that I had expected. All the food is nice and fresh (warm when it should be, cold when it shouldn't) and, of course, tasty. (Not to mention the super tasty juice they bring you! Man, I could live off that stuff!)
Two memories were made that morning. The first was when I may have startled our waitress. Every cast member's name tag shows where he or she is from, and our waitress just so happened to be from Wisconsin. I was so excited I shouted, "Sconnie!" Thankfully, the others were there to explain that we were all from Wisconsin (at least, in part) as well, so we bonded over the sad loss of the Packers and the awesomeness of being in Florida without snow.
The second was when they brought over the picture of the 4 of us with Donald. Now, unlike Cinderella's, the picture they take at Tusker House is NOT included with the meal. The package (one big photo and 4 smaller ones, I think) cost about $38, and since Bestie had a cast member take the same pic with her camera, we declined. But, before it was taken away, C noticed something interesting: "They covered my shirt!" Indeed they had. C was wearing a Coors shirt that day, and instead of blurring it out or (Heaven forbid) leaving it alone, they covered it with the Disney 2012 logo.
After breakfast, we went on my favorite AK ride, the Kilimanjaro Safari. I won't bore you with tons of details, but on this ride, you get to go on a safari through the park, where you can see anything from giraffes to warthogs to hippos (yay!) hanging out in what looks like their natural habitat. Again, sort of like the zoo, but seriously cooler.
We spent some time on the nature trails after that, checking out more animals from around the world and enjoying the beautiful day. It wasn't too hot, but we decided we'd go on Kali River Rapids. I freakin' love this ride, and I hadn't done it since high school, so I was all gung-ho. The signs along the line say, "Caution: You WILL get wet. You MAY get soaked." Guess who got soaked... Yep! Hubby and I were pretty well drenched (at least from the back). And since I refuse to go anywhere in shorts, I was wearing full length jeans, which do NOT dry out very quickly. Or at all. I had a serious case of wet-butt for the rest of the day.
In an attempt to dry off (and since I'd never been on it, nor had Hubby), we headed toward Expedition Everest, the mountain ride in AK. Bestie and her husband love this ride, so we were hoping Hubby would enjoy it, too. Well, about 2/3 of the way through the ride or so, we came to a stop. At first I assumed they were helping someone on or off the ride who needed assistance, but we just weren't moving. At all. And eventually a voice told us that the expedition was over for right now and to hang tight and wait for a cast member to arrive.
Now, as much as I am curious about the last third of the ride, this was possibly one of the coolest things to happen. We got to do an emergency ride evacuation at Disney! Too cool!! Hubby, one the other hand, was just happy the ride was over with. It seems that no, this was not the kind of ride that his body could handle, and he was feeling pretty miserable by that time. We did an evac through the mountain itself, and while we weren't allowed to take photos (even if some dumb girl did with her phone, ugh), it was an experience I'll never forget. How many guests get to see the inside of a Disney ride like that?
After grabbing Hubby some Dramamine, we parked ourselves on a bench and had some treats (mmmm... Mickey Ears). I think that was when we decided we'd head back to the resort, change, and then hit up Downtown Disney. By the time we were back at the resort, I asked Bestie if she'd kill me if I said a nap sounded really good. We all agreed we could use a break, so we said goodbye and goodnight.
Hubby and I wound up napping for a few hours before hopping on a bus to Epcot for our date night dinner at San Angel Inn, the table service restaurant in Mexico. I'll probably end up doing some kind of review on San Angel later, so for now, I'll just say 3 things: 1) They did an amazing job making this place feel small and intimate. 2) Everything I ate was pretty freakin' awesome! 3) Beware: Tequila shots here can be expensive. There's actually a $50+ shot you can get! Aye yi yi...
Since we had a later reservation, we pretty much headed straight for the bus when dinner was over. The wait for the bus was ridiculous. Not because of the bus itself; it was there pretty promptly. But we had to wait to load a scooter on to the bus (it was being shared by an overweight couple presumably on their honeymoon who just couldn't hoof it through the parks like the rest of us tubby folk), and then a wheelchair (which was being used by an elderly woman, so no grief there). It actually took so long that a SECOND bus for our resort came up and parked behind it, and the whole line of guests actually cheered when the driver opened the door to let us on.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
It's A Small World, After All
Ack! No. Not the ride. That is one ride I refuse to do as an adult. I endured it 3 times in my life; that's more than enough for me, thanks.
I'm talking about the World(s) of Epcot. And I guess after walking all day, it doesn't really feel so small.
After a quick breakfast at the resort, we hopped the bus over to Epcot on Monday morning. (For those who are less familiar with Disney, that's the one that has the giant golf ball.) Since the entrance takes you straight to Future World, that's where we began our day.
When this day began, I had no idea how we were going to handle things. Bestie (M) has a muscle disorder that makes stairs and inclines especially painful, and I knew that there was a possibility of getting her a wheelchair while we were at Disney (and, of course, also the possibility that she would be too stubborn to get one). Little did I know the magic of the Guest Assistance Pass/Card. I have been forever ruined. The GAC lets people who have difficulty walking for long times, issues with stairs, etc still have a magical Disney experience. It's sort of like a fast pass, only you don't have to come back at a certain time. The best part of this pass is that you can take your whole party along so you don't end up getting separated!
Test Track has always been one of my favorite rides, and since Hubby's a car guy, it's a pretty sure thing that you can find us there. Bestie and her hubs like it, too, so off we went. We sailed through the fast pass lane and got to hang around looking at car stuff. Hubby, of course, was trying to explain certain functions of car parts, but I was too busy taking pictures and talking to Bestie to really take anything in.
Hubby has a bit of a weak stomach when it comes to turns and jolting around, so as much as he enjoys Test Track, it's best that we only go one it once. Things get fuzzy after that, but I know, in some order, we did:
Soarin'
First, I love that Patrick Warbuton does the intro thing. He makes the world a better place. Also, this ride has me convinced that Disney is, in fact, run on magic. I don't know how else they could make you feel like you're actually flying!
Club Cool
The Coke sponsored, air-conditioned building where you can try pop from around the world. There are some tasty ones (I like the apple flavored one, Hubby enjoyed watermelon), but watch out for Beverly. Also, you can buy regular coke OR coke slushies here. Nom nom nom.
The Coke sponsored, air-conditioned building where you can try pop from around the world. There are some tasty ones (I like the apple flavored one, Hubby enjoyed watermelon), but watch out for Beverly. Also, you can buy regular coke OR coke slushies here. Nom nom nom.
Living With The Land
Hubby's favorite ride. You get to see all sorts of awesome plants (including a 9 pound lemon), some cool fish (tilapia, anyone?) and how Disney (and others) are using the two together to produce healthier fish AND plants for all of us!
Turtle Talk With Crush
This is an interactive thing that you would probably think is aimed at children. I guess it technically is, but trust me, they know how to keep the adults entertained, too. Hubby and I hadn't seen this one before, and it was pretty hilarious!
The Seas w/Nemo & Friends
So, you hop in a little clam-mobile and slowly travel through the seas, looking for Nemo (can't that damn fish stay in one spot?). All your favorites from the movie are there: Dory, Marlin, Crush, Squirt, Mr. Ray and others appear while you search for the world's most famous clown fish. You'd think he would have a harder time hiding with all that publicity...
Spaceship Earth
This is the ride that takes you inside the giant golf ball. No, really. It's true! Spaceship Earth takes you on a journey through our past and into what could be our future. It’s a very slow, but very cool ride that empties into an equally awesome building (Project Tomorrow) where you can test out video games and other “futuristic” technologies.
Electric Umbrella
A great restaurant for lunch. If you’re on the dining plan, the best part (to me, anyway) is that you can use your “dessert” to get a fruit cup! Don’t get me wrong. I frickin’ LOVE desserts. But I knew we were going to have some awesome desserts at dinner, so it was nice to have the option at lunch.
The Seas
In the same building as Crush and the Nemo ride, there is a HUGE aquarium (and a bunch of smaller aquariums). You can see fish, sharks, dolphins, manatees, and more in these aquariums! Bestie’s favorite was probably the cuttlefish (which, btw, is pretty crazy and cool - we saw it change colors right in front of us!), but I think mine were the jellyfish. Something about them is so surreal…
Eventually we decided it was time to make our way to World Showcase, so we took the ferry across (which was really convenient, actually). We stopped outside Germany for a bit and walked through Italy. We went into the “American Adventure” pavilion and got lucky enough to catch the Voices of Liberty doing their thing. They have some amazing talent and a lot of fun, so it was definitely a pleasant surprise.
Dinner was at Les Chefs de France in, of course, the France pavilion. We spent some time trying to teach Bestie some French (in particular, “I am a hippopotamus” and “Can I sharpen my pencil?”), but it wasn’t really working. We totally made fools of ourselves in front of some native French speakers, but hey – it’s Disney! I’m supposed to be a fool. Anywhoozles, the food was excellent. I had a wonderful French onion soup followed by half a chicken, which I ordered in French. Of course, our waitress said, “Oh! You speak French?” I froze before saying, ”Un peu!” (“A little!”) so she didn’t try to bombard me with the language I gave up learning about 10 years ago.
My dessert, as predicted, was amazing. It was a strawberry cream cake with raspberry sorbet on the side, and it was just Heaven. The French definitely know how to do dessert, and for that, I thank them.
The best part of this dinner was when C (Bestie’s husband) came back from the bathroom and told us there had been a little girl singing, “I love potatoes!” in a high-pitched voice. The rest of the vacation, we would spontaneously burst out with, “I love potatoes!” and then try to get as high as we could. It was most excellent.
After grabbing a Grand Marnier slushie to go, we headed toward the entrance and caught a bus back to our resort. I think this is the evening that Bestie and I soaked away in the hot tub for awhile as our menfolk got drinks and talked amongst themselves. If so, it also makes it the night that I beat both my hubby and Bestie’s hubby at air hockey. That’s right. I’m an air hockey champ, yo!
I walked Bestie back to our rooms and we each headed off for bed. Our husbands came back shortly after we did, as I’m pretty sure they were exhausted, too.
Oof. Well, I apologize for the length of this one, kids. I’m sick and this was a nice break from reality. :)
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Onward!
And so continues the tale of our awesome Disney vacation...
Sunday, we got up and ready around 8:30. We came downstairs to find that I (of K & I) had made us an awesome breakfast of bacon, fresh fruit and cinnamon buns. This is a man who knows how to play host! We were sad to leave them (and their two little furbabies), but we were so appreciative of all they did for us. We're already trying to plan another trip to the South so we can visit again!
From Atlanta, it's about another 7.5-8 hours to get to WDW, so onward we went. Hubby wound up driving the whole thing (because there was NO way I was driving in Orlando; I can barely handle traffic in Milwaukee!), and I played navigator. I found it interesting that billboards in that area don't seem to be utilized in quite the same way they are up here. Most of the billboards around us are for PSAs, cash for gold, chain restaurants, and clothing lines/stores I never knew existed. But in that stretch, things were a little different.
First, and most noticeably, only about half of the existing billboards were in use. There were a TON with "Available Now" on them, and some that just had remnants of an ad from long ago (or maybe last week; it's hard to tell). Next, of those being used, there were 3 types that stood out the most: religious/political messages, pecans, and strippers. Pecans are, of course, very southern, but holy wow. Every other billboard was for goo goo clusters or fresh pecan picking! Kinda nuts (pun definitely intended)! The ads for strippers were usually pretty hilarious. There was one joint in particular that apparently had the motto, "Strippers: Need We Say More" and used it on every single board. They also had deals (and parking!) for truckers, which I suppose is nice. Cater to your audience, right?
But then... then there were the ultra-conservative, churchy ads that I just don't take kindly to. And these made up a LARGE number of the signs along this stretch of the interstate. "Prepare to meet thy maker!" one of them said. Really? Is that a threat? Or... I dunno. The ones that really get me are the anti-abortion ads. I don't want this to turn political (Puppies & Rainbows!), but suffice it to say I was ready to get out of there.
When we finally started seeing the signs for Disney, I was beyond thrilled! We were almost there!! By the time we pulled into our resort, I was bouncing in my seat and grasping all my confirmation papers, because there was NO way I was going to screw this up, dammit. I was at Disney, and I was there to stay. End. Of. Story.
Thankfully, check in went quickly and soon we were in our room, unpacking for a week of magic and fun. A nice cast member stopped by with some gifts for us (darn that bestie of mine!), including little Mickey and Minnie stuffed toys and a set of Nightmare Before Christmas ornaments. We'd been told to text C's phone when we got there (M's hubby; M's phone was about to die), but hadn't heard back yet, so we just settled in and were pleased to be out of the car. When our room phone rang, we both just looked at one another. Hubby was closest, so after a few rings he answered. It wound up being M telling us that they lost C's phone, but that M's phone was alive and we could call when we were ready to head to Magic Kingdom for the evening.
Words can't really describe the overwhelming feelings that followed. I was reunited with my bestie after a year of being apart. I was at the happiest place on Earth with her, her husband, and Hubby. I had no work or school to think about for a week. And I was about to go eat INSIDE the freakin' castle, FCOL! For a few moments there, everything in the whole world felt perfect. I don't think I could've stopped smiling if I had wanted to.
Dinner was wonderful and fun. M and I each got a magic wand and the guys got swords. We each got a wishing star and M and I got to keep our menus! As we ate, princesses strolled around, visiting each table. We were greeted by Aurora, Snow White, Ariel, and Belle during dinner, and had gotten our picture with Cinderella before the meal, so things were pretty magical from the get-go. Even more magical was that a few tables over from us, a couple got engaged. How freakin' amazing would that be?? (The sad part was that the bride-to-be didn't look all that excited; in fact, she looked pretty 'meh' about the whole thing. Poor guy went through a lot of planning to get that put in place, and she just continued on eating after he put the ring on, as if nothing had happened!)
Magic was everywhere, and I was in such a good place. So, it should be no surprise that when Wishes (the fireworks display set to Disney music and quotes) came on and we could see the fireworks from our table, I couldn't help but cry. It was perfect. Absolutely everything I had hoped for and more.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Here Comes Valentine's, Here Comes Valentine's, Right Down Valentine Lane
How come there aren't very many Valentine's Day songs? I mean, are there any that are specifically dedicated to the holiday? I know, all love songs are applicable on V-Day, and it gets mentioned in some songs, but Christmas gets a bajillion songs. Halloween gets some pretty awesome ones. Hell, even Thanksgiving gets "Over the River and Through the Woods"! Best I can come up with is "My Funny Valentine" and if you really listen, it's actually kind of a mean song. "Well, you're not very pretty or smart, but dammit, I love ya!" Gee... Thanks.
Anywhoozles, it seems that in last year's Valentine's-related post, I neglected to share my awesome Heart Day traditions with you lovely people! What was I thinking?? CLEARLY you're all on the edge of your seats, so here goes.
Warning: There's going to be some talk about my lady parts. If you're easily offended (and you'd have to be REALLY easily offended; I'm not going into great detail here), then skip this and have a great day.
On our very first Valentine's Day together, I had an appointment for a colposcopy. Ladies, if you've ever had an abnormal pap smear, it's possible you know what I'm talking about. For everyone else, it's a diagnostic procedure where they essentially stick a camera up your hoo-ha to get a look at your cervix. The procedure itself isn't much different than a pap (a little more "personal" since they have to actually look around a bit), but if they don't like what they see, they might biopsy part of the cervix. Because of this, they tell you that you might be sore for a day or two and should probably take it fairly easy (in other words, no sex) for about a week.
Thankfully, they didn't deem a biopsy necessary in my case. They did ask if I wanted to see what the camera was showing, but I declined. I figured if it was all good, I didn't really need to see for myself. They're the pros. I'll take their word for it.
Even though there wasn't a biopsy, I was in some discomfort for the rest of the day, and was pretty glad to have taken the whole day off. When Hubby got off of work, he drove the hour and a half to come spend Valentine's evening with me, knowing that I had to take it easy and wasn't feeling 100%.
So how did we spend that evening? We ordered Chinese food and watched "Breakfast at Tiffany's" together. Every year since, we've had some variation on that, and we consider it our tradition. Sometimes we mix it up and go out for Chinese, or maybe we'll go to the theatre to catch a flick, but more often, we order takeout and watch a DVD at home. It's simple, but it's one of my favorite traditions.
Friday, January 6, 2012
The Holidays are Over; Bring on Reality!
I guess I went AWOL for a bit there, hey? Sorry about that. Things have been busy.
Christmas was good to us, I will admit. Christmas Eve Day I got to exchange presents with K at Ella's Deli (yes, we exchange Christmas gifts at a Jewish deli). That crafty lady made me lip balm! Seriously; she MADE it. How cool is that, right? Anywhoozles, that afternoon I decorated sugar cookies while Hubby napped. Maxine, in her Christmas sweater, napped along with him for most of the afternoon, and I spent some good time with my parents.
Christmas Eve dinner was, of course, fantastic. Mom made the best Yorkshire pudding ever, and when I found they were out of hot cocoa mix, Dad made me some from "scratch" by heating up some pieces of Dove chocolate and mixing with milk. I have to say that my family is pretty great, and that helps make my holidays so wonderful. Would've enjoyed some snow, but, it was still lovely.
My parents got me a 3,000-piece puzzle (which is HUGE, btw) and a Jambox (which will come in really handy for school). They got Hubby a Gentleman Jack giftbox (so, basically, good booze and two glasses). They got Miss Maxine a bunch of toys and treats. Oh, and best of all, they got us a new water heater! (Apparently I was thisclose to getting an iPad, but they decided to get us something practical instead. Ah, the joys of being a homeowner!)
Hubby surprised me by getting us a bunch of stuff we can enjoy together, including a remote control for our PS3 (so we can watch blu rays without fumbling over the controller), season 2 of "Big Bang Theory" and season 1 of "Raising Hope," and new controllers for the Wii. He also got me a gorilla pod (that I picked out myself) and a monopod (that was a complete surprise)! Yes, it was a successful Christmas indeed. :)
Christmas Day was spent with my mom's side of the family, and then watching the Packers beat the Bears before heading back home. The day after was Christmas with Hubby's family, which, while a bit chaotic at times, was nice. I got to spend a lot of time hanging out with my nephew and taking pictures of him (he's so freakin' cute!!), but after being exhausted from all the running around that weekend (and feeling like I was starting to come down with something), I wound up sleeping in the recliner for an hour or two toward the end of our visit. In my family, it's not Christmas until someone falls asleep in the midst of the festivities, so I guess I was just carrying over the tradition.
You'd think a 4-day work week would go quickly, but it didn't. It dragged. A lot. And while I looked forward to our weekend plans, part of me would've been content just sleeping through the whole thing. Alas, after a bit of a struggle, we made our way to Madison for S's graduation gathering. We spent the night at my parents' and the next day had lunch plans with a friend of mine and his wife. I hadn't seen Mr. P since his wedding, which was in November of 2009 (they moved to Georgia the previous year), so this lunch was LONG overdue. We actually made plans to stop in on our drive down to Disney in March, so it won't be nearly as long before we see them next! Color me pleased.
New Year's Eve was spent with my second family. K, S and J (my "sisters") had all gotten new toys (iPhones, Kindle, etc) and much of the evening was spent in the same room, but each of us on our respective electronic. K's dad and his new wife stayed around for dinner, but left around 10 or so. See, the new wife has a rescue dog named Princess (a bichon, for those interested). Since she can get along with Eva (J's dog), we tried bringing Maxine into the mix. Bad idea. Bad. Those two were at each other's throats like you wouldn't believe! My best guess is Maxi made an inappropriate "Yo Mama" joke and Princess was having none of it. I'm probably wrong, but it works in my head. So anywhoozles, they ended up crating Princess upstairs in the "other" condo, since the two couldn't play nicely, and so they left early to make sure Princess didn't spend the whole evening alone.
We had a great time anyway. K always makes my second favorite meal of the year for New Year's Eve: shrimp and potatoes. Between that and all the snack foods available, I was stuffed silly. We played some Apples to Apples and drank to ring in the new year. Then we crashed at the condo (me on the couch, Hubby on the recliner/floor, Maxi on another chair). New Year's Day we headed home to drop off the puppers and headed back to see part of Hubby's family for the Packers game (go Matt Flynn!). Thankfully, we had nothing to do the next day, and we spent it like a couple of lazy bums. It was lovely.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Christmastime is Here
Well, I have my Christmas cards sent out, about half of our presents wrapped, and I've been listening to Christmas music (on my own) for about a week now. Christmas must be a-coming.
The concept of Christmas itself is sort of conflicting for me. As we know, I'm completely a-religious, so I don't go to church or get into the whole nativity thing. In fact, our neighbors across the street have a fairly gaudy plastic nativity decoration out front that drives me crazy. Not because of the churchiness, but because you could probably land a plane on our street when it's lit up. Aye yi yi.
I don't have a problem with using the abbreviation X-mas. I understand the "Keep Christ in Christmas" thing, but personally, I don't think the two are related. Are people upset when others abbreviate TGIF because they don't actually write out "God"? Somehow, I think not. And that's all X-mas is. It's an abbreviation, not blasphemy.
I think people should wish whatever the hell they want during the holiday season. I don't care if they wish me a happy holiday, a merry Christmas or just a nice day; I just appreciate the sentiment. If you're offended because someone mentioned a holiday that you don't celebrate, I can't imagine what else offends you...
That being said, I love Christmas. Not as much as Halloween, but it's a close second in my book. I love the smell of a pine tree in my house and I love buying presents for people I love. The past few years, I've taken to making Christmas crafts, and though I tend to end up with more glue on me than I could've sworn I even had available, I enjoy it. I love being with my family and eating all the cookies I can shove in my mouth before my stomach registers that it's too much. Getting Christmas cards in the mail makes me downright giddy, and I look forward to my mom's Christmas Eve prime rib the other 364 days a year. T'is a wonderful holiday, indeed.
My parents will tell you that I'm a tradition nazi. Actually, most people who know me would tell you that. I just happen to think traditions are a integral part of the holiday experience, though, I may take things a bit too far sometimes. My mom once made little tenderloin medallions instead of prime rib for Christmas Eve and I sort of threw a fit (even though it was actually in my best interest, since I always had an issue with eating too much prime rib and getting horrendous tummy aches). Another year, Mom decided that she wanted their tree upstairs in the window instead of downstairs where it has ALWAYS been, and I tried really, really hard to talk her out of it, even though it was something she had always wanted to try. Thankfully, I've gotten past most of those issues, but I still have to have my mug of hot chocolate in order to open presents on Christmas Eve and I have to put certain ornaments on the tree myself or else things don't feel quite right.
The one thing I'm missing right now is snow. We've only had one snowfall that stuck, and it was only around for an afternoon. No one dreams of a grey, rainy Christmas. No one sings, "Let it sleet, let it sleet, let it sleet." There's a reason for this. It sucks. In my opinion, snow is the only acceptable precipitation this time of year and, as my family's motto goes, it's Christmas, dammit!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Anniversaries Abound
Five years ago today, Hubby and I decided to make things official and begin dating. It's amazing to me that it was so long ago, but also that it has only been five years. Boggles the mind, kids...
As if that weren't enough, on Sunday, Hubby and I had our first wedding anniversary. Yay!! :) It was a pretty awesome weekend, if I do say so myself. Allow me to recap:
Friday night - Drove into Madison to my parents' house. Zach went out to see a friend; I did homework. (OK, so that sounds lame, but it gets better.)
Saturday morning - Headed downtown to the Farmer's Market! We bought honey straws (they actually had real bees at the tent!), cheese curds, a block of 6-year cheddar (that's Hubby's), a container of raspberries, a small thing of apple cider and some hot and spicy cheese bread rolls. Everything was delicious!! The square was PACKED, but it was still a lot of fun. When we finished, we headed across the street to Tabby & Jack's, since Hubby hadn't been before (and I'd only been to the other location). We got Maxi a shirt that says, "Wicked Cute" and has a little witch's hat on it. And we got a cool collapsible bowl to keep in the car in case Maxi needs water while we're out and about. :)
Saturday afternoon - After a quick trip up and down State Street, we decided to head to lunch at my favorite place in Madison, Ella's Deli. For those who haven't been, Ella's is like ADD Heaven. There are things moving and spinning and singing and clicking all over the restaurant. I know some people aren't big fans, but I've been going to Ella's since I can remember. I love it so much that I had my 16th birthday party there AND had lunch there for my 21st birthday. The best part about Ella's, though, is the carousel. And yes, Hubby and I rode it on Saturday. And yes, it was awesome. Sure, I don't fit into the stirrups as well as I used to, but whatever. Once we were done, we headed back to my parents' to check on the puppers and then we headed to the hotel to check in. We stayed at the same hotel where we spent our wedding night. Nothing too fancy, but definitely nice enough. Once checked in, we promptly took a nap. Yeah. We're exciting.
Saturday evening - I finished up some homework while Hubby watched TV. Once I was done, we decided that dinner sounded good. We wound up going to Olive Garden. We hadn't been there in awhile, and it was somewhere we actually went fairly frequently when we were first dating, so it seemed like a decent decision. I had an awesome Moscato (I love my sweet, white wines) and an awesome dinner, so I really can't complain. After dinner, we headed back downtown and walked around the square at night. It was MUCH nicer without the crowds, though my shoes were sadly not made for walking, and I got a couple nice blisters. Full and happy, we headed back to the hotel, turned on the TV and made a few drinks. It wasn't long before we gave up and went to sleep.
Sunday morning - Had breakfast at the hotel ($9.50 each for what would normally be "free" at other hotels, but whatever) and then packed up our stuff. Headed back to Mom and Dad's to catch the Packers game. As I had told my mom, all I wanted for my anniversary was a Packers win. I got it. :) I also got a Brewers win. Bonus!! :)
Sunday afternoon/evening - Lounged at the parents' house until it was time for our dinner reservation at Bellini Italian Restaurant. We love Bellini not only for their food, but also because it's where we had our wedding ceremony and reception, so coming back for our anniversary was a no-brainer. Dad drove us there limo-style (he said he wished he had the hat for it) and we were seated right away. Now, at the end of our wedding night, the staff had told us that if we came back for our anniversary, we would get a free meal. (This, of course, was merely a bonus for us.) We made sure to tell the waiter that this was our first anniversary and that we had gotten married there a year ago. He was very nice and congratulated us, but made no mention of the free meal. We figured it like this: Worst case scenario, we paid for everything. That's cool. It's our anniversary. We planned to spend money. Best case scenario, we got free entrees and paid for some drinks and appetizers. Awesome. So we decided to go all out:
- I started with a Bellini (a champagne drink with peach nectar) and Hubby had some kind of whiskey drink.
- We shared calamari for an appetizer. YUM!
- For dinner, Hubby had a nice salmon dish and I had a fantastic rib eye with asparagus and broccolini on the side (and we each got a salad and bread to go with).
- With dinner, I had a melontini (Midori, Malibu, and some other stuff) and Hubby had a Jim Beam and Coke.
- After dinner, we decided to split a (large) piece of tiramisu (the ONLY coffee-flavored thing I enjoy). I had a chocolate martini and Hubby had an espressotini (it even had 3 coffee beans floating in it for garnish).
When our waiter came at the end of the meal, we assured him that everything had been phenomenal. He then said, "I just wanted to congratulate you again on your anniversary. On behalf of Bellini's, we thank you for having your wedding here and for celebrating your anniversary with us, and so we would like you to have this meal on the house. Have a great evening." And then he walked away. Our jaws dropped. The WHOLE THING was covered. Holy. Shit. We had NOT expected that!! Thankful to no end, Hubby dropped a REALLY nice tip and we cabbed it back to Mom and Dad's. It was another early night for us, but we fell asleep completely content with the way the whole weekend had gone.
We drove back home on Monday early afternoon (we both took the day off), and that was that. :)
To extend the festivities, though, part of my gift to Hubby was tickets to the last Brewers game of the season, at Miller Park. Needless to say, we can't WAIT to go!! :) YAY!!!
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