Sunday, October 01, 2006
Friday, September 29, 2006
Day 6.......FULL of people....(and food!!)
Another beautiful day……with the exception that it really did warm up…..reached 90 today. After breakfast, we went to Magic Kingdom…..and WOW……are there ever a lot of people/families here NOW!!!!!!! It took forever to get a shuttle bus this morning…..and then when we arrived we could barely navigate up Main Street for all of the people and strollers!!
We stopped briefly at the candy/pastry shop on the right hand side of the street…….they have THE most incredible cinnamon rolls…..at least 4” high and hot out of the oven. Ummmm, but they were great!!!
It was then off to Tomorrowland. The girls just had to ride again….in fact, three times, on the “Mt.” roller coaster there……..an old ride, but still very popular!! Then we had lunch in Tomorrowland……and shortly afterward, I left to go to Downtown Disney. Wellllllll………..
I went to the shuttle buses to catch a ride to the Contemporary Hotel….which is about ¾ of a mile from Magic Kingdom. I then found out that there is no bus to THAT hotel…..so I walk a good ½ miles back to the Monorail. I get on the next train…..and it sits in the station for 10 minutes before an announcement is made that there is a problem down the line with the switch and that we would be sitting there for awhile!!!! Soooooo, I got out and then walked to the Contemporary Hotel. You see……..you cannot catch a shuttle bus from one kingdom/park to another…..you must first go to a resort hotel and transfer there! Makes sense??? NO!!!
So, at the hotel I then sit and wait for over 30 minutes for the correct shuttle bus that goes to Downtown Disney. After boarding that bus, it then takes about 45 minutes to get there!!!! By this time it was late afternoon, so I walked quickly around the shopping and restaurant areas, through the bar and club areas, and then had a great Girardelli(sp?) ice cream soda. Then it was time to catch a bus to a hotel so I could transfer to Epcot. Another 45 minute ride!!!! And…..all of this mass transit systems were really, REALLY full!!!!!
Guess the International Food and Wine Festival brought in a lot of people. Upon arriving at Epcot, I quickly…..as possible……walked the mile to the International Center. WOW…….sooooo many people all standing in lines to get food at the small little stands, along with many wine stands. I purchased some “Shrimp on the Barbie” and a wonderful little torte from the Australian booths, along with some good Dark Red Medicine. Then I went to the German area and purchased a sausage and sauerkrat on a pretzel roll along with an apple strudel covered in fresh cream!!!! After eating all of this, I purchased another glass if Italian dry wine…….very, very good.
THEN…..at 9pm, the unbelievable fireworks and music show on the lake in front of the International area began……..and let me tell you, I have seen wonderful fireworks shows in Hong Kong, Salzburg, and a HUGE show off of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and this show tonight ranks right up there at the top of all of these spectacular shows!!!!! It is really difficult to describe!!!!! Artistic, gorgeous, a real tear-jerker!!!
And, so……..tomorrow our little week of experiences comes to a close with an evening flight back to STL. It has been great…….tiring……fun…..and fattening!!!!! I hate to weigh myself……UGH!!!! I talked with a fellow on the bus tonight…..and he arrived last Sunday morning, just as we did…..and he said he had gained 7 pounds this week already!!!!!
More weight………..but, yet….
Life is Great…..and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
We stopped briefly at the candy/pastry shop on the right hand side of the street…….they have THE most incredible cinnamon rolls…..at least 4” high and hot out of the oven. Ummmm, but they were great!!!
It was then off to Tomorrowland. The girls just had to ride again….in fact, three times, on the “Mt.” roller coaster there……..an old ride, but still very popular!! Then we had lunch in Tomorrowland……and shortly afterward, I left to go to Downtown Disney. Wellllllll………..
I went to the shuttle buses to catch a ride to the Contemporary Hotel….which is about ¾ of a mile from Magic Kingdom. I then found out that there is no bus to THAT hotel…..so I walk a good ½ miles back to the Monorail. I get on the next train…..and it sits in the station for 10 minutes before an announcement is made that there is a problem down the line with the switch and that we would be sitting there for awhile!!!! Soooooo, I got out and then walked to the Contemporary Hotel. You see……..you cannot catch a shuttle bus from one kingdom/park to another…..you must first go to a resort hotel and transfer there! Makes sense??? NO!!!
So, at the hotel I then sit and wait for over 30 minutes for the correct shuttle bus that goes to Downtown Disney. After boarding that bus, it then takes about 45 minutes to get there!!!! By this time it was late afternoon, so I walked quickly around the shopping and restaurant areas, through the bar and club areas, and then had a great Girardelli(sp?) ice cream soda. Then it was time to catch a bus to a hotel so I could transfer to Epcot. Another 45 minute ride!!!! And…..all of this mass transit systems were really, REALLY full!!!!!
Guess the International Food and Wine Festival brought in a lot of people. Upon arriving at Epcot, I quickly…..as possible……walked the mile to the International Center. WOW…….sooooo many people all standing in lines to get food at the small little stands, along with many wine stands. I purchased some “Shrimp on the Barbie” and a wonderful little torte from the Australian booths, along with some good Dark Red Medicine. Then I went to the German area and purchased a sausage and sauerkrat on a pretzel roll along with an apple strudel covered in fresh cream!!!! After eating all of this, I purchased another glass if Italian dry wine…….very, very good.
THEN…..at 9pm, the unbelievable fireworks and music show on the lake in front of the International area began……..and let me tell you, I have seen wonderful fireworks shows in Hong Kong, Salzburg, and a HUGE show off of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and this show tonight ranks right up there at the top of all of these spectacular shows!!!!! It is really difficult to describe!!!!! Artistic, gorgeous, a real tear-jerker!!!
And, so……..tomorrow our little week of experiences comes to a close with an evening flight back to STL. It has been great…….tiring……fun…..and fattening!!!!! I hate to weigh myself……UGH!!!! I talked with a fellow on the bus tonight…..and he arrived last Sunday morning, just as we did…..and he said he had gained 7 pounds this week already!!!!!
More weight………..but, yet….
Life is Great…..and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Day 5: Epcot on display....
The most gorgeous weather we have had on any day this week since arriving in Disney World…….was today!! No matter the time of day……it was perfect. It was such a joy to be outside…….difficult to go inside just to take one of the rides.
We went to Epcot around 10:30 this morning……and this is one of MY favorite kingdoms/parks. I enjoyed the rides, the environmental emphasis in some of the pavilions, and the beautiful style in the landscaping with wonderful contemporary fountains which in some cases were “dancing” to the music being heard in the fountain areas.
I think I will journey back over there tomorrow to spend a bit more time. I wanted to spend the evening in the international area there but the 1st Lady felt she had to help with Meg and Rachel…..and Dr. Jeni was exhausted today. She had to finalize the purchase of the dental business from down here…..by phone and Fax…..and that was quite an ordeal off and on all day. I was left there with the gathering tens of thousands as the opening of the International Food and Wine Festival began late today……..and with all of the partying and dancing in the streets occurring, I did not enjoy being by myself, so I caught a bus back to the hotel. Not the way I wanted to spend a beautiful evening, but…….Asi, Asi!!
I didn’t mention the good rides in Epcot: the trip to Mars, Soar, and the car testing ride. All of them were really good!!!!! I did do some food tasting in some of the booths/stalls in the international area. Some wonderful Greek Baklava and a French Crepe with chocolate………there were toooooooo many various food stalls from many, many countries to try everything ( and I didn’t want to spend THAT much).
WITH the exception of not being able to enjoy the evening at Epcot…..it was a good day, thanks in part to the outstanding weather, as I said above.
With the above as stated, …….we complete our 5th day at Walt Disney World. What will tomorrow bring???? I’m not certain….other than I plan to experience more of Epcot. And with that in mind…….
Life IS Great…..and I hope it is for all of you, also!
We went to Epcot around 10:30 this morning……and this is one of MY favorite kingdoms/parks. I enjoyed the rides, the environmental emphasis in some of the pavilions, and the beautiful style in the landscaping with wonderful contemporary fountains which in some cases were “dancing” to the music being heard in the fountain areas.
I think I will journey back over there tomorrow to spend a bit more time. I wanted to spend the evening in the international area there but the 1st Lady felt she had to help with Meg and Rachel…..and Dr. Jeni was exhausted today. She had to finalize the purchase of the dental business from down here…..by phone and Fax…..and that was quite an ordeal off and on all day. I was left there with the gathering tens of thousands as the opening of the International Food and Wine Festival began late today……..and with all of the partying and dancing in the streets occurring, I did not enjoy being by myself, so I caught a bus back to the hotel. Not the way I wanted to spend a beautiful evening, but…….Asi, Asi!!
I didn’t mention the good rides in Epcot: the trip to Mars, Soar, and the car testing ride. All of them were really good!!!!! I did do some food tasting in some of the booths/stalls in the international area. Some wonderful Greek Baklava and a French Crepe with chocolate………there were toooooooo many various food stalls from many, many countries to try everything ( and I didn’t want to spend THAT much).
WITH the exception of not being able to enjoy the evening at Epcot…..it was a good day, thanks in part to the outstanding weather, as I said above.
With the above as stated, …….we complete our 5th day at Walt Disney World. What will tomorrow bring???? I’m not certain….other than I plan to experience more of Epcot. And with that in mind…….
Life IS Great…..and I hope it is for all of you, also!
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
WHAT a GRAND day it was!!!!
AHHHHH……what a beautiful and comfortable day it has been here at Disney World!!!!!! The temps were just right, the sun peeked through the clouds off and on until later this afternoon when the sky turned a bright blue as the clouds moved on out of here, and the evening…..well, the evening is just great.
We were up before dawn this morning as we had reservations at the Crystal Palace for a “character” breakfast……..Winnie the Pooh and friends were with us for the meal. Soooo, after being transported from our hotel to the Magic Kingdom, waiting in line for the gates to open this morning, and then finally being seated in the lovely Crystal Palace…….the breakfast buffet was incredible!!!!!!! SOOOOO much food and of such high quality……just a tremendous meal!!! And……everyone sooooo enjoyed the table visits by Winnie and friends…..one at a time so many pics could be taken of the three little ones at our table as the Pooh and his friends stopped by. It was great fun for the girls. We had a wonderful server/waiter………soooo great with the kids.
After eating MUCH more than I needed ….especially after last night’s great dinner…..we waddled out of the Palace and headed off to Tomorrowland. Space Mt. was the first ride of the morning…..and I began to wonder about it as we careened up and down and round and round in the dark as we flew through space……almost literally. ALL of that food bounced around inside my sagging and enlarging hulk…..and at a few times, I wondered if I might lose it on the ride…..but, everything remained in place internally!
Soooooo, at the insistence of the girls, I turned right around and rode it again, since there were sooo few people there at 9:30am. From there, it was just a few rides, many character autograph signings in the books of the girls, along with some really great pics…..that you will have to wait until next week to enjoy. Still very little strength in the connection through my cell phone.
We watched the afternoon parade……..very enjoyable, but not as cool as I remembered it from 24 years ago!! HAHHA…..could it be my aging memory????? Do things from the past seem better than they actually were???? Hmmmmm…….much food for thought (when I have the time to think).
We returned to the hotel, rested a bit, and then cleaned up for dinner. We had reservations for dinner at 8pm in the Contemporary Hotel at a steakhouse there. We had to shuttle bus to the Magic Kingdom and then catch the Monorail to the Contemporary Hotel.
Dinner….??? Well, to say the very least…..it was disappointing!!!! With six and a baby, the total cost was almost $275.00.…..but we didn’t owe one cent with our dining plan!!!!!! THAT was the best part of the evening. I would certainly hate to have had to pay THAT bill myself, especially with the very mediocre quality of the food that we were served. We all ordered appetizers: shrimp cocktails, lobster bisque, onion rings, and had pan-seared scallops in a lemon-viniagarette sauce. (How the hell is viniag……spelled???)
For $10 I had TWO medium sized scallops!!!! And,….they were overcooked and tough.
Our dinners were: filet mignon, NY strip steaks, and other types of steaks. For desserts, we had vanilla crème brulee, chocolate cake, cheesecake. Again…..nothing was perfected enough to “write home about”!!!! And the coffee was flavorless…..and tasteless!!!! Enough said!
The atmosphere was noisy….the restaurant being in the “tomb” of the building that soars many floors to the top. AND….the Monorails swish through there every few minutes, just a few feet from our table. Sooooo, it just wasn’t the most pleasant dining experience that a person can, or should….have!!!! I would NOT recommend that restaurant for an evening meal!!!!! And, certainly not at that price!!!
We then took the Monorail to Epcot, so that we could transfer to a shuttle bus for the trip back to our hotel…..arriving around 11pm. A late night….again…for the three little ones. Tomorrow we will visit Epcot……..and I want to “sneak” back to Epcot on Friday as the International Food and Wine Festival begins there!!!!! I HAVE to go there for some tastings………!!!!
And so…..another day ends with my body extended and miserable from all of this late night dining, which tonight was not the best. We have no other reservations for dinner anywhere……will just take our chances, I guess. However…..even with the poor food this evening, it has been a wonderful and fun-filled day…..and sooooo…..
Life IS Great…..and I hope it is for all of you, also.
We were up before dawn this morning as we had reservations at the Crystal Palace for a “character” breakfast……..Winnie the Pooh and friends were with us for the meal. Soooo, after being transported from our hotel to the Magic Kingdom, waiting in line for the gates to open this morning, and then finally being seated in the lovely Crystal Palace…….the breakfast buffet was incredible!!!!!!! SOOOOO much food and of such high quality……just a tremendous meal!!! And……everyone sooooo enjoyed the table visits by Winnie and friends…..one at a time so many pics could be taken of the three little ones at our table as the Pooh and his friends stopped by. It was great fun for the girls. We had a wonderful server/waiter………soooo great with the kids.
After eating MUCH more than I needed ….especially after last night’s great dinner…..we waddled out of the Palace and headed off to Tomorrowland. Space Mt. was the first ride of the morning…..and I began to wonder about it as we careened up and down and round and round in the dark as we flew through space……almost literally. ALL of that food bounced around inside my sagging and enlarging hulk…..and at a few times, I wondered if I might lose it on the ride…..but, everything remained in place internally!
Soooooo, at the insistence of the girls, I turned right around and rode it again, since there were sooo few people there at 9:30am. From there, it was just a few rides, many character autograph signings in the books of the girls, along with some really great pics…..that you will have to wait until next week to enjoy. Still very little strength in the connection through my cell phone.
We watched the afternoon parade……..very enjoyable, but not as cool as I remembered it from 24 years ago!! HAHHA…..could it be my aging memory????? Do things from the past seem better than they actually were???? Hmmmmm…….much food for thought (when I have the time to think).
We returned to the hotel, rested a bit, and then cleaned up for dinner. We had reservations for dinner at 8pm in the Contemporary Hotel at a steakhouse there. We had to shuttle bus to the Magic Kingdom and then catch the Monorail to the Contemporary Hotel.
Dinner….??? Well, to say the very least…..it was disappointing!!!! With six and a baby, the total cost was almost $275.00.…..but we didn’t owe one cent with our dining plan!!!!!! THAT was the best part of the evening. I would certainly hate to have had to pay THAT bill myself, especially with the very mediocre quality of the food that we were served. We all ordered appetizers: shrimp cocktails, lobster bisque, onion rings, and had pan-seared scallops in a lemon-viniagarette sauce. (How the hell is viniag……spelled???)
For $10 I had TWO medium sized scallops!!!! And,….they were overcooked and tough.
Our dinners were: filet mignon, NY strip steaks, and other types of steaks. For desserts, we had vanilla crème brulee, chocolate cake, cheesecake. Again…..nothing was perfected enough to “write home about”!!!! And the coffee was flavorless…..and tasteless!!!! Enough said!
The atmosphere was noisy….the restaurant being in the “tomb” of the building that soars many floors to the top. AND….the Monorails swish through there every few minutes, just a few feet from our table. Sooooo, it just wasn’t the most pleasant dining experience that a person can, or should….have!!!! I would NOT recommend that restaurant for an evening meal!!!!! And, certainly not at that price!!!
We then took the Monorail to Epcot, so that we could transfer to a shuttle bus for the trip back to our hotel…..arriving around 11pm. A late night….again…for the three little ones. Tomorrow we will visit Epcot……..and I want to “sneak” back to Epcot on Friday as the International Food and Wine Festival begins there!!!!! I HAVE to go there for some tastings………!!!!
And so…..another day ends with my body extended and miserable from all of this late night dining, which tonight was not the best. We have no other reservations for dinner anywhere……will just take our chances, I guess. However…..even with the poor food this evening, it has been a wonderful and fun-filled day…..and sooooo…..
Life IS Great…..and I hope it is for all of you, also.
WHAT a GRAND day it was!!!
AHHHHH……what a beautiful and comfortable day it has been here at Disney World!!!!!! The temps were just right, the sun peeked through the clouds off and on until later this afternoon when the sky turned a bright blue as the clouds moved on out of here, and the evening…..well, the evening is just great.
We were up before dawn this morning as we had reservations at the Crystal Palace for a “character” breakfast……..Winnie the Pooh and friends were with us for the meal. Soooo, after being transported from our hotel to the Magic Kingdom, waiting in line for the gates to open this morning, and then finally being seated in the lovely Crystal Palace…….the breakfast buffet was incredible!!!!!!! SOOOOO much food and of such high quality……just a tremendous meal!!!
And……everyone sooooo enjoyed the table visits by Winnie and friends…..one at a time so many pics could be taken of the three little ones at our table as the Pooh and his friends stopped by. It was great fun for the girls. We had a wonderful server/waiter………soooo great with the kids.
After eating MUCH more than I needed ….especially after last night’s great dinner…..we waddled out of the Palace and headed off to Tomorrowland. Space Mt. was the first ride of the morning…..and I began to wonder about it as we careened up and down and round and round in the dark as we flew through space……almost literally. ALL of that food bounced around inside my sagging and enlarging hulk…..and at a few times, I wondered if I might lose it on the ride…..but, everything remained in place internally!
Soooooo, at the insistence of the girls, I turned right around and rode it again, since there were sooo few people there at 9:30am. From there, it was just a few rides, many character autograph signings in the books of the girls, along with some really great pics…..that you will have to wait until next week to enjoy. Still very little strength in the connection through my cell phone.
We watched the afternoon parade……..very enjoyable, but not as cool as I remembered it from 24 years ago!! HAHHA…..could it be my aging memory????? Do things from the past seem better than they actually were???? Hmmmmm…….much food for thought (when I have the time to think).
We returned to the hotel, rested a bit, and then cleaned up for dinner. We had reservations for dinner at 8pm in the Contemporary Hotel at a steakhouse there. We had to shuttle bus to the Magic Kingdom and then catch the Monorail to the Contemporary Hotel.
Dinner….??? Well, to say the very least…..it was disappointing!!!! With six and a baby, the total cost was almost $275.00.…..but we didn’t owe one cent with our dining plan!!!!!! THAT was the best part of the evening. I would certainly hate to have had to pay THAT bill myself, especially with the very mediocre quality of the food that we were served. We all ordered appetizers: shrimp cocktails, lobster bisque, onion rings, and had pan-seared scallops in a lemon-viniagarette sauce. (How the hell is viniag……spelled???)
For $10 I had TWO medium sized scallops!!!! And,….they were overcooked and tough.
Our dinners were: filet mignon, NY strip steaks, and other types of steaks. For desserts, we had vanilla crème brulee, chocolate cake, cheesecake. Again…..nothing was perfected enough to “write home about”!!!! And the coffee was flavorless…..and tasteless!!!! Enough said!
The atmosphere was noisy….the restaurant being in the “tomb” of the building that soars many floors to the top. AND….the Monorails swish through there every few minutes, just a few feet from our table. Sooooo, it just wasn’t the most pleasant dining experience that a person can, or should….have!!!! I would NOT recommend that restaurant for an evening meal!!!!! And, certainly not at that price!!!
We then took the Monorail to Epcot, so that we could transfer to a shuttle bus for the trip back to our hotel…..arriving around 11pm. A late night….again…for the three little ones. Tomorrow we will visit Epcot……..and I want to “sneak” back to Epcot on Friday as the International Food and Wine Festival begins there!!!!! I HAVE to go there for some tastings………!!!!
And so…..another day ends with my body extended and miserable from all of this late night dining, which tonight was not the best. We have no other reservations for dinner anywhere……will just take our chances, I guess. However…..even with the poor food this evening, it has been a wonderful and fun-filled day…..and sooooo…..
Life IS Great…..and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!! (please overlook the typing....it is LATE)
We were up before dawn this morning as we had reservations at the Crystal Palace for a “character” breakfast……..Winnie the Pooh and friends were with us for the meal. Soooo, after being transported from our hotel to the Magic Kingdom, waiting in line for the gates to open this morning, and then finally being seated in the lovely Crystal Palace…….the breakfast buffet was incredible!!!!!!! SOOOOO much food and of such high quality……just a tremendous meal!!!
And……everyone sooooo enjoyed the table visits by Winnie and friends…..one at a time so many pics could be taken of the three little ones at our table as the Pooh and his friends stopped by. It was great fun for the girls. We had a wonderful server/waiter………soooo great with the kids.
After eating MUCH more than I needed ….especially after last night’s great dinner…..we waddled out of the Palace and headed off to Tomorrowland. Space Mt. was the first ride of the morning…..and I began to wonder about it as we careened up and down and round and round in the dark as we flew through space……almost literally. ALL of that food bounced around inside my sagging and enlarging hulk…..and at a few times, I wondered if I might lose it on the ride…..but, everything remained in place internally!
Soooooo, at the insistence of the girls, I turned right around and rode it again, since there were sooo few people there at 9:30am. From there, it was just a few rides, many character autograph signings in the books of the girls, along with some really great pics…..that you will have to wait until next week to enjoy. Still very little strength in the connection through my cell phone.
We watched the afternoon parade……..very enjoyable, but not as cool as I remembered it from 24 years ago!! HAHHA…..could it be my aging memory????? Do things from the past seem better than they actually were???? Hmmmmm…….much food for thought (when I have the time to think).
We returned to the hotel, rested a bit, and then cleaned up for dinner. We had reservations for dinner at 8pm in the Contemporary Hotel at a steakhouse there. We had to shuttle bus to the Magic Kingdom and then catch the Monorail to the Contemporary Hotel.
Dinner….??? Well, to say the very least…..it was disappointing!!!! With six and a baby, the total cost was almost $275.00.…..but we didn’t owe one cent with our dining plan!!!!!! THAT was the best part of the evening. I would certainly hate to have had to pay THAT bill myself, especially with the very mediocre quality of the food that we were served. We all ordered appetizers: shrimp cocktails, lobster bisque, onion rings, and had pan-seared scallops in a lemon-viniagarette sauce. (How the hell is viniag……spelled???)
For $10 I had TWO medium sized scallops!!!! And,….they were overcooked and tough.
Our dinners were: filet mignon, NY strip steaks, and other types of steaks. For desserts, we had vanilla crème brulee, chocolate cake, cheesecake. Again…..nothing was perfected enough to “write home about”!!!! And the coffee was flavorless…..and tasteless!!!! Enough said!
The atmosphere was noisy….the restaurant being in the “tomb” of the building that soars many floors to the top. AND….the Monorails swish through there every few minutes, just a few feet from our table. Sooooo, it just wasn’t the most pleasant dining experience that a person can, or should….have!!!! I would NOT recommend that restaurant for an evening meal!!!!! And, certainly not at that price!!!
We then took the Monorail to Epcot, so that we could transfer to a shuttle bus for the trip back to our hotel…..arriving around 11pm. A late night….again…for the three little ones. Tomorrow we will visit Epcot……..and I want to “sneak” back to Epcot on Friday as the International Food and Wine Festival begins there!!!!! I HAVE to go there for some tastings………!!!!
And so…..another day ends with my body extended and miserable from all of this late night dining, which tonight was not the best. We have no other reservations for dinner anywhere……will just take our chances, I guess. However…..even with the poor food this evening, it has been a wonderful and fun-filled day…..and sooooo…..
Life IS Great…..and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!! (please overlook the typing....it is LATE)
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Day 3 in Disney World
Today was: Animal Kingdom Day!!!!! AND…….I do believe it is my favorite place/park so far this week……..why??? The atmosphere, the architecture(s) of the various places (Asia, Africa, etc., etc.), and the natural(?) beauty of the various places are sooooooooo damn scenic and, yes…..”natural” looking!! The negatives…….what do you think??? ALL the people, of course. The pathways are more narrow than the other parks and this causes much “clustering” of thousands of people who are all sweating in the ungodly HIGH humidity and heat that we experienced to day.
BUT……it is still my favorite place…..so far. I would just love to be able to take my time and enjoy it all the more, but…..alas, that is not to be. We must hurry from ride or show to another so as to not miss any of those experiences…….we must see them all. Or, so one feels as they join the thousands of jungle-goers and get caught up in the maddening rush of the crowds.
Not being a roller coaster fan, I didn’t partake of the Everest Experience, but certainly enjoyed the Dinosaur ride back in time, the fabulous Lion King Show, the great ride thru the jungles and plains of Africa by a REAL vehicle with REAL animals staring at us….the viewers. All in all……a really very good day of adventures and experiences. Oh……did I mention the memories that were recalled as I walked through the Asian area….the buildings, the styles, the colors……the ambience of the entire area!!!
And….then it rained!!!! HARD……but, the sun returned VERY soon……tooooo soon and we soon had steam…natural steam, not the Disney-made steam that is all around the place. We were literally being steamed this afternoon……..did I lose weight???? HA!!!!! What the hell do you think???? Of course not!!!
This evening the 1st Lady and I had reservations at the “signature” restaurant here in Disney World……”Jiko”. Outstanding!!!!!!!! We dined on appetizers that we have not experienced before…….chopped lamp in phylo dough with a wonderful mint type chutney was ordered by the 1st Lady, while I had three different types of African breads along with three different kinds of “dips”, humus, etc., etc. WONDERFUL!!!!
For the main course, she had a filet mignon with a wonderful dark sauce surrounding the veggies which laid gracefully under the very thick and perfectly prepared thick filet. It was a beautiful presentation. I had halibut which was lightly fried in a maize flour, laying on a bed of veggies: parsnips, squash of undetermined kind but OHHHH sooooo good, soybeans, lentils, and other uncommonly used veggies. On top of the fabulous fish were thinly fried strips of sweet potatoes……..wow…..really great!!!!
For dessert, the 1st Lady enjoyed a Pistachio Crème Brulee and I had a Flourless Chocolate Cake in small squares, stacked on top of each other…..and a small scoop of vanilla ice cream on a bed of crushed nuts, with caramel sauces in a contemporary design on the side of the plate.
All of the above was accompanied by a really good South African Cabernet Sauvignon wine.
Our server, Shellie……well, she was well versed in the preparations and ingredients of each item on the menu……which she shared with us with honest opinions. It was always enjoyable to have her at the side of our table to discuss any of the items we were eating…..or thinking about ordering.
The atmosphere was very contemporary…..in an African setting. A lovely place to dine……with subdued lighting, but not to much as we could easily discern what we were eating.
I/we would highly recommend anyone who is here to plan to spend an evening at Jiko for dinner……it is in the Animal Kingdom Lodge which is a real treat to enjoy for the African styles exhibited in the building!! Our meal was not as expensive as I anticipated…….the entire meal was only $136.00.…..a real bargain for the quality of food AND service!!!!! Thank you, Shellie!!!! (And…on our dining plan……there was not any cost to us!!!!!!!!!)
And so…..another day in Disney World!!!!! Tomorrow we have a “character” breakfast with Winnie the Pooh in the Magic Kingdom at 8:20 am!!!! It will be another early morning for the little ones, so I need to finish this so they will not be awakened by my typing!! With a day such as this one, with a dinner such as they one described above……
LIFE IS GREAT……and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
BUT……it is still my favorite place…..so far. I would just love to be able to take my time and enjoy it all the more, but…..alas, that is not to be. We must hurry from ride or show to another so as to not miss any of those experiences…….we must see them all. Or, so one feels as they join the thousands of jungle-goers and get caught up in the maddening rush of the crowds.
Not being a roller coaster fan, I didn’t partake of the Everest Experience, but certainly enjoyed the Dinosaur ride back in time, the fabulous Lion King Show, the great ride thru the jungles and plains of Africa by a REAL vehicle with REAL animals staring at us….the viewers. All in all……a really very good day of adventures and experiences. Oh……did I mention the memories that were recalled as I walked through the Asian area….the buildings, the styles, the colors……the ambience of the entire area!!!
And….then it rained!!!! HARD……but, the sun returned VERY soon……tooooo soon and we soon had steam…natural steam, not the Disney-made steam that is all around the place. We were literally being steamed this afternoon……..did I lose weight???? HA!!!!! What the hell do you think???? Of course not!!!
This evening the 1st Lady and I had reservations at the “signature” restaurant here in Disney World……”Jiko”. Outstanding!!!!!!!! We dined on appetizers that we have not experienced before…….chopped lamp in phylo dough with a wonderful mint type chutney was ordered by the 1st Lady, while I had three different types of African breads along with three different kinds of “dips”, humus, etc., etc. WONDERFUL!!!!
For the main course, she had a filet mignon with a wonderful dark sauce surrounding the veggies which laid gracefully under the very thick and perfectly prepared thick filet. It was a beautiful presentation. I had halibut which was lightly fried in a maize flour, laying on a bed of veggies: parsnips, squash of undetermined kind but OHHHH sooooo good, soybeans, lentils, and other uncommonly used veggies. On top of the fabulous fish were thinly fried strips of sweet potatoes……..wow…..really great!!!!
For dessert, the 1st Lady enjoyed a Pistachio Crème Brulee and I had a Flourless Chocolate Cake in small squares, stacked on top of each other…..and a small scoop of vanilla ice cream on a bed of crushed nuts, with caramel sauces in a contemporary design on the side of the plate.
All of the above was accompanied by a really good South African Cabernet Sauvignon wine.
Our server, Shellie……well, she was well versed in the preparations and ingredients of each item on the menu……which she shared with us with honest opinions. It was always enjoyable to have her at the side of our table to discuss any of the items we were eating…..or thinking about ordering.
The atmosphere was very contemporary…..in an African setting. A lovely place to dine……with subdued lighting, but not to much as we could easily discern what we were eating.
I/we would highly recommend anyone who is here to plan to spend an evening at Jiko for dinner……it is in the Animal Kingdom Lodge which is a real treat to enjoy for the African styles exhibited in the building!! Our meal was not as expensive as I anticipated…….the entire meal was only $136.00.…..a real bargain for the quality of food AND service!!!!! Thank you, Shellie!!!! (And…on our dining plan……there was not any cost to us!!!!!!!!!)
And so…..another day in Disney World!!!!! Tomorrow we have a “character” breakfast with Winnie the Pooh in the Magic Kingdom at 8:20 am!!!! It will be another early morning for the little ones, so I need to finish this so they will not be awakened by my typing!! With a day such as this one, with a dinner such as they one described above……
LIFE IS GREAT……and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
Monday, September 25, 2006
Disney World.....Day 2
We didn’t wake up very early…..at least not as we had planned to do. Dr. Jeni was really getting worried about Ava, so she talked with the hotel info office and they suggested calling the DisneyWorld medical clinic and ask for their “house call doctor”. Jeni did just that and within an hour a medical doctor arrived……and stayed for at least 45 minutes examining Ava and discussing her diagonosis with Dr. Jeni. Seems that Ava has what is commonly known as “Pink Eye”……..and was given several types of medications which the Dr. brought with her from the clinic. It was a VERY costly hour…….but it put some worries away for all of us.
So, it was about 11:30 before we left the hotel for MGM-Disney Studio Park. This was quite a cool place…..all streets and areas looking like Hollywood streets, movie lots, and movie sets. We spent the day going to shows, on rides including the Tower of Terror and just walking this park.
Really surprised just how well Meg and Rachel are adjusting to all of the walking. Really doing a great job…..no complaints from either of them.
As we entered the Park today, we were stopped by a Park worker, asking how many of us there were. Then she said we were going to be in for a special treat and to follow her. We did and she took us to the Indiana Jones show…..and then told us that Meghan was going to start the show in front of the several thousand people, by saying “Lights….Camera….Action!!!”. Well…..when the time came, she did it just fine!!!! We also received six “Fast Pass” tickets to be used at any time during the day. Really came in handy!!!!!
I cannot get my phone internet hookup to upload any pics that I have taken over the past two days. Guess there just isn’t enough strength in the connection to get it done…….reading the STL paper takes forever just to download, so suppose that is the problem. Sorry about that……will have many pics when we return that I will post!
I continue to be amazed at the GREAT DEAL we got for this trip!!!! I think I mis-stated the cost of the DisneyWorld trip……it was $1200 and change for the three of us, me…the 1st Lady….and Rachel. That includes our 6 nights in the hotel, our park tickets which allow us to jump to other parks as many times each day as we want, AND our meals: lunch with dessert, an afternoon snack, and dinner with appetizers, entrée, and dessert. I have easily spent over $70 on meals today alone!!!!! It is just incredible…….and I think this was just a trial for them to see how many would take advantage of this offer. Our meals alone will amount to the $1200 by the time we leave…….!!! Tomorrow night, the 1st Lady and I are dining at the Disney World signature restaurant, where each meal will run close to $100!!!!!
Rain is supposed to move in tomorrow…….could change many of our plans, but will have rain gear and are ready to continue…..hopefully.
And…..with pounds being added to my sagging hulk on a daily basis……I still believe….that:
Life is Great……and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!
So, it was about 11:30 before we left the hotel for MGM-Disney Studio Park. This was quite a cool place…..all streets and areas looking like Hollywood streets, movie lots, and movie sets. We spent the day going to shows, on rides including the Tower of Terror and just walking this park.
Really surprised just how well Meg and Rachel are adjusting to all of the walking. Really doing a great job…..no complaints from either of them.
As we entered the Park today, we were stopped by a Park worker, asking how many of us there were. Then she said we were going to be in for a special treat and to follow her. We did and she took us to the Indiana Jones show…..and then told us that Meghan was going to start the show in front of the several thousand people, by saying “Lights….Camera….Action!!!”. Well…..when the time came, she did it just fine!!!! We also received six “Fast Pass” tickets to be used at any time during the day. Really came in handy!!!!!
I cannot get my phone internet hookup to upload any pics that I have taken over the past two days. Guess there just isn’t enough strength in the connection to get it done…….reading the STL paper takes forever just to download, so suppose that is the problem. Sorry about that……will have many pics when we return that I will post!
I continue to be amazed at the GREAT DEAL we got for this trip!!!! I think I mis-stated the cost of the DisneyWorld trip……it was $1200 and change for the three of us, me…the 1st Lady….and Rachel. That includes our 6 nights in the hotel, our park tickets which allow us to jump to other parks as many times each day as we want, AND our meals: lunch with dessert, an afternoon snack, and dinner with appetizers, entrée, and dessert. I have easily spent over $70 on meals today alone!!!!! It is just incredible…….and I think this was just a trial for them to see how many would take advantage of this offer. Our meals alone will amount to the $1200 by the time we leave…….!!! Tomorrow night, the 1st Lady and I are dining at the Disney World signature restaurant, where each meal will run close to $100!!!!!
Rain is supposed to move in tomorrow…….could change many of our plans, but will have rain gear and are ready to continue…..hopefully.
And…..with pounds being added to my sagging hulk on a daily basis……I still believe….that:
Life is Great……and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!
Sunday, September 24, 2006
WDW....Day 1
OMG……what a LONG day!!!!!! The alarm went off at 3:15 this morning…..and we left for STL at 4:30. Just as we were preparing to turn off of I-70 to get to the “long term parking lot”, Dr. Jeni, Darrel, and girls pulled up beside us…..what perfect timing!! After getting parked and ALL the luggage out of the cars, we caught an airport shuttle to the East Terminal for our Southwest Airlines flight to Orlando. Luggage???? We might as well have been leaving for India for a year…..but of course, it DOES take a lot for the two younger girls, Meghan and Ava. Anyway….when we got to the terminal to check the bags, we had EIGHT bags being checked, plus all of the carry-on items!!!!!
The SWAirlines people chewed on Dr. Jeni for not having little Ava’s birth certificate to authenticate that she was under two years old!!!! Good God…..all they had to do was LOOK at her and they could see she is just a babe in swaddling clothes!!! Anyway…..we did get it all worked out and after a not-too-long wait in the terminal, we boarded the plane with TONS of other parents and many TONS of small children……all heading to Disney World!!!!! Is school NOT in session in Missouri????? What about the education of these school skipping kids??? Hmmmmmm…….hahaha…..what the Hell??? WHY NOT take off and go see Mickey????!!!! (and that from a former teacher and now a current school board member).
The flt was only one hour and 45 minutes long!!!!! A really QUICK trip down to Orlando!!!! For the girls it was the first trip in a plane….that they could remember. Meg had been as a baby several years ago…….so, it was an exciting take-off for them. A bit of a chop for awhile about half way down there kept the stewards from serving many drinks, even tho we were up front and did get ours!!
Arriving in Orlando, we checked in at the WDW counter and were assigned our shuttle bus to the Disney hotel in the park……..and in about an hour we were getting our rooms from the desk. We also picked up our WDW card that lets us into everything….rooms, the parks, and also our two meals and snack each day. After a bit of a rest in the rooms, we caught the shuttle for the Magic Kingdom…..and the little ones became more excited as left the shuttle and headed up Main Street, seeing the HUGE castle for the very first time!!!!
The rest of the afternoon was spent walking, watching, seeing, and riding the rides that we could get on without toooooo much of a wait. We used the “Fast Pass” several times which is a really wonderful way of getting on to the better rides without the LONG waits!!! Ava has developed either a cold or an allergy and is not feeling too good, so Dr. Jeni and Darrel and Ava left us around 7:30 and returned to the hotel. Meg and Rachel, the 1st Lady and I remained until almost 10pm riding…..and then watching the incredible fireworks display.
It was a LONG day, as I said above. Returning to the hotel by shuttle bus, the girls fell into bed and were out before they were hardly out of their food stained clothing…..hahaha!! What will tomorrow bring………I’m sure it won’t be early rising!!!
And so…..after a long day, tired feet, bleary eyes, and a VERY sagging hulk of myself, ……
Life is Great…….and I hope it is for all of you, also
The SWAirlines people chewed on Dr. Jeni for not having little Ava’s birth certificate to authenticate that she was under two years old!!!! Good God…..all they had to do was LOOK at her and they could see she is just a babe in swaddling clothes!!! Anyway…..we did get it all worked out and after a not-too-long wait in the terminal, we boarded the plane with TONS of other parents and many TONS of small children……all heading to Disney World!!!!! Is school NOT in session in Missouri????? What about the education of these school skipping kids??? Hmmmmmm…….hahaha…..what the Hell??? WHY NOT take off and go see Mickey????!!!! (and that from a former teacher and now a current school board member).
The flt was only one hour and 45 minutes long!!!!! A really QUICK trip down to Orlando!!!! For the girls it was the first trip in a plane….that they could remember. Meg had been as a baby several years ago…….so, it was an exciting take-off for them. A bit of a chop for awhile about half way down there kept the stewards from serving many drinks, even tho we were up front and did get ours!!
Arriving in Orlando, we checked in at the WDW counter and were assigned our shuttle bus to the Disney hotel in the park……..and in about an hour we were getting our rooms from the desk. We also picked up our WDW card that lets us into everything….rooms, the parks, and also our two meals and snack each day. After a bit of a rest in the rooms, we caught the shuttle for the Magic Kingdom…..and the little ones became more excited as left the shuttle and headed up Main Street, seeing the HUGE castle for the very first time!!!!
The rest of the afternoon was spent walking, watching, seeing, and riding the rides that we could get on without toooooo much of a wait. We used the “Fast Pass” several times which is a really wonderful way of getting on to the better rides without the LONG waits!!! Ava has developed either a cold or an allergy and is not feeling too good, so Dr. Jeni and Darrel and Ava left us around 7:30 and returned to the hotel. Meg and Rachel, the 1st Lady and I remained until almost 10pm riding…..and then watching the incredible fireworks display.
It was a LONG day, as I said above. Returning to the hotel by shuttle bus, the girls fell into bed and were out before they were hardly out of their food stained clothing…..hahaha!! What will tomorrow bring………I’m sure it won’t be early rising!!!
And so…..after a long day, tired feet, bleary eyes, and a VERY sagging hulk of myself, ……
Life is Great…….and I hope it is for all of you, also
Saturday, September 23, 2006
RAIN....RAIN....and lots of RAIN!!!!
Rain........and that is what occurred today!!!! It was a continuance of last night's storms...with the exception that we were not under tornado warnings. Today brought huge quantities of rain......and one brief storm with some wind. With such a rainy day......it brought back memories of decades ago when the rain would prevent me from going outside to just enjoy playing with friends. The rain today kept me from doing anything productive........finished packing my bag for the trip to Orlando, did some surfing on the net, some reading, and some tellie watching (UGH).
The 1st Lady went to see Mike this afternoon, picked up Rachel who had been brought down by her grandfather, and then they came on back to F'town. We "dined" at the Pizza Hut......one of Rachel's "favorite" places to eat.
We must check in at the airport in STL by 6:15 in the morning.....UGH!!!! We are scheduled to arrive in Orlando at 11AM.....Eastern time. The good people of Disney will pick us up, transport us to our hotel in the park, and then we are off to see Mickey and pals. I doubt if Rachel or Meghan will sleep tonight.......excitement is running high. Dr. Jeni and Darrel, Meghan and Ava will meet us at the airport......IF....they are on time. They are infamous for being late!!!!!
And sooooooo, I will bring this to a close and get a few zzzzz's before our big "adventures" begin tomorrow. I will attempt to post from there, even tho "free" Wifi is not available....and I REFUSE to pay for it "by the hour". I will use my cell phone when possible to continue my posting for relatives, friends, and addicted readers..........
Life is Great......and I hope it is for all of you, also.
The 1st Lady went to see Mike this afternoon, picked up Rachel who had been brought down by her grandfather, and then they came on back to F'town. We "dined" at the Pizza Hut......one of Rachel's "favorite" places to eat.
We must check in at the airport in STL by 6:15 in the morning.....UGH!!!! We are scheduled to arrive in Orlando at 11AM.....Eastern time. The good people of Disney will pick us up, transport us to our hotel in the park, and then we are off to see Mickey and pals. I doubt if Rachel or Meghan will sleep tonight.......excitement is running high. Dr. Jeni and Darrel, Meghan and Ava will meet us at the airport......IF....they are on time. They are infamous for being late!!!!!
And sooooooo, I will bring this to a close and get a few zzzzz's before our big "adventures" begin tomorrow. I will attempt to post from there, even tho "free" Wifi is not available....and I REFUSE to pay for it "by the hour". I will use my cell phone when possible to continue my posting for relatives, friends, and addicted readers..........
Life is Great......and I hope it is for all of you, also.
Friday, September 22, 2006
New Cabinets arrive
TODAY.....yep, today we took delivery on our new kitchen cabinets. Can you believe it???? After all of this time, we finally have ALL of them sitting in crates and boxes in our living room and dining area!!!!!! They are really packed well, the delivery was effortless for the truck and two guys who brought them inside, and now we just have to wait until we return from our week long trip to Orlando/DisneyWorld so that we can get them uncrated.
HOW we get them out of all of the crates/boxes is beyond me!!! It will be quite an undertaking and may....MAY....require some extra hands to assist. Tools are a necessity.....and think I have most of what is required. It will be a busy week upon our return.......a quick trip to KC to pick up TheHowserHouse and bring it home, the kitchen cabs, and perhaps a driveway sale of all of our furniture not being used, AND picking up our new ss dishwasher and ss microwave.
Then we have to take two of the cab doors that need glass inserts to STL, along with one shelve from each cab so that glass shelves can be made to fit. With lights to be installed inside these two units at the top of the cab, the glass shelves are so that the light will shine clear thru to the bottom of the cabinet. Then, we have to get the door pulls, but we will need to get accurate measurements and a decision as to how long we want those that will be on the larger doors. Should be fun.....!!??
I did run out to the Board of Education Bldg this afternoon and see what I missed at the school bd. meeting earlier this week while I was in Kansas City. Then some errands around town needed to be taken care of.......and then the storms arrived. For about 45 minutes we were under a Tornado WARNING.....but the clouds/tornado passed by us to the northwest.
Summer has returned for one last fling.........very, very warm humid weather today!! Think perhaps the storms will push it out of here........just as long as it doesn't push us out of here too!!!!
The 1st Lady has been packing VERY carefully today........and as always, I'm certain she is taking WAY tooooooooooo many clothes. As she and I have reservations for dinner at a very nice place in DisneyWorld, we have to have clothing more than just shorts and golf shirts.....so, we will have pack a little more carefully with that in mind. Hmmmmm, long pants for me??? Think I have only been in them twice ALL summer long.........
And soooooooooo, one more day before we see Mickey Mouse!!! And, with that in mind.......
Life is GREAT......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!! (Andy/Laura......loved the "thank you" post card!!!!!)
HOW we get them out of all of the crates/boxes is beyond me!!! It will be quite an undertaking and may....MAY....require some extra hands to assist. Tools are a necessity.....and think I have most of what is required. It will be a busy week upon our return.......a quick trip to KC to pick up TheHowserHouse and bring it home, the kitchen cabs, and perhaps a driveway sale of all of our furniture not being used, AND picking up our new ss dishwasher and ss microwave.
Then we have to take two of the cab doors that need glass inserts to STL, along with one shelve from each cab so that glass shelves can be made to fit. With lights to be installed inside these two units at the top of the cab, the glass shelves are so that the light will shine clear thru to the bottom of the cabinet. Then, we have to get the door pulls, but we will need to get accurate measurements and a decision as to how long we want those that will be on the larger doors. Should be fun.....!!??
I did run out to the Board of Education Bldg this afternoon and see what I missed at the school bd. meeting earlier this week while I was in Kansas City. Then some errands around town needed to be taken care of.......and then the storms arrived. For about 45 minutes we were under a Tornado WARNING.....but the clouds/tornado passed by us to the northwest.
Summer has returned for one last fling.........very, very warm humid weather today!! Think perhaps the storms will push it out of here........just as long as it doesn't push us out of here too!!!!
The 1st Lady has been packing VERY carefully today........and as always, I'm certain she is taking WAY tooooooooooo many clothes. As she and I have reservations for dinner at a very nice place in DisneyWorld, we have to have clothing more than just shorts and golf shirts.....so, we will have pack a little more carefully with that in mind. Hmmmmm, long pants for me??? Think I have only been in them twice ALL summer long.........
And soooooooooo, one more day before we see Mickey Mouse!!! And, with that in mind.......
Life is GREAT......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!! (Andy/Laura......loved the "thank you" post card!!!!!)
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Back in the stick and brick.....
After a couple of cups of coffee and some good morning conversation with the lady of the Hilke Inn, I took my leave and drove over to Nationwide RV Sales. After talking with the service manager, Michael Thompson, I made arrangements to return to KC and pick up TheHowserHouse in about 10 days. After that conversation......I headed east on I-70 STL and then south to F'town.
It only took about 5 hours and I was back in our driveway unloading the truck. The rest of the afternoon went by quickly as I attempted to catch up on the past 48 hours +......... Later, I had arranged with three of my friends to come by the house and assist me in moving the grand piano across the living room. It is certainly great to have friends who will break their backs for you......carrying a HEAVY piano from one side of a room to another!!!!
This evening.........hooked on a few tellie shows: Survivor, Grey's Anatomy, and ER......and then the evening is gone as I sit on my sagging ass. Hmmmm......need to walk a couple of miles tomorrow...rain permitting.
And so, another quick trip across the state and back. A good trip .........and.....
Life is Great!!! ....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
It only took about 5 hours and I was back in our driveway unloading the truck. The rest of the afternoon went by quickly as I attempted to catch up on the past 48 hours +......... Later, I had arranged with three of my friends to come by the house and assist me in moving the grand piano across the living room. It is certainly great to have friends who will break their backs for you......carrying a HEAVY piano from one side of a room to another!!!!
This evening.........hooked on a few tellie shows: Survivor, Grey's Anatomy, and ER......and then the evening is gone as I sit on my sagging ass. Hmmmm......need to walk a couple of miles tomorrow...rain permitting.
And so, another quick trip across the state and back. A good trip .........and.....
Life is Great!!! ....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
A day in Kansas City......GREAT!!!
What a wonderful change to awake in the bedroom of the rolling HowserHouse……but, NO…I was not moving. Just that I was “camped” in Grain Valley, MO and it was sooo nice to be doing that!!
After Fr. Roast coffee and a quick shower, I began to unhook the umbilical cords and prepare to take TheHowserHouse to the shop for some service on a few items that need some repair/work. It was only three miles from the cg to Nationwide RV Sales and so in just a few quick minutes I was discussing with Michael Thompson, the service manager, what needed to be checked and repaired. He then said that he couldn’t get a part that was needed in the two days and that I would have to walk away and the TheHowserHouse here in the suburbs of Kansas City, MO!!! How lonely it will be without me or the 1st Lady around to take of it!!!!!!
Soooo, after departing Nationwide, I went to a shopping center/area/mall in Independence and spent most of the morning at Barnes & Noble……YEAH!!!!!! Haven’t had the opportunity to spend several hours browsing in that wonderful bookstore in a couple of years…….and it was almost like heaven to this old sagging hulk of myself to have soooooo many books around me AND……wonderful Starbucks cappuccino!!!!! WHAT A GREAT MORNING!!!
I took a drive into the city center of Kansas City…..it had been years and years since I have in the center of town. WHAT a difference!!! SOOOO much construction going on, sooooo many apartments and lofts being occupied and more being built!!!! What a Renaissance…..and I hope it remains that way!!!
Then it was back out to Independence and some more shopping. Later I dinner at O’Charley’s…….and OMG, but do they ever serve WAY too much food!!!! Very good……but way toooo much!!!
Then it was up to the Hilke Inn where I am spending the night. Long time friends who I only get to see every few years……and what a shame. We must not let this occur any more…….our lives are tooooo short.
And so……it was a good day…..a relaxing day…..a day that ended with much stimulating conversation and sooooo much laughter in our remembrances!! And……with that in mind…..
Life IS GREAT!!!!……and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!
After Fr. Roast coffee and a quick shower, I began to unhook the umbilical cords and prepare to take TheHowserHouse to the shop for some service on a few items that need some repair/work. It was only three miles from the cg to Nationwide RV Sales and so in just a few quick minutes I was discussing with Michael Thompson, the service manager, what needed to be checked and repaired. He then said that he couldn’t get a part that was needed in the two days and that I would have to walk away and the TheHowserHouse here in the suburbs of Kansas City, MO!!! How lonely it will be without me or the 1st Lady around to take of it!!!!!!
Soooo, after departing Nationwide, I went to a shopping center/area/mall in Independence and spent most of the morning at Barnes & Noble……YEAH!!!!!! Haven’t had the opportunity to spend several hours browsing in that wonderful bookstore in a couple of years…….and it was almost like heaven to this old sagging hulk of myself to have soooooo many books around me AND……wonderful Starbucks cappuccino!!!!! WHAT A GREAT MORNING!!!
I took a drive into the city center of Kansas City…..it had been years and years since I have in the center of town. WHAT a difference!!! SOOOO much construction going on, sooooo many apartments and lofts being occupied and more being built!!!! What a Renaissance…..and I hope it remains that way!!!
Then it was back out to Independence and some more shopping. Later I dinner at O’Charley’s…….and OMG, but do they ever serve WAY too much food!!!! Very good……but way toooo much!!!
Then it was up to the Hilke Inn where I am spending the night. Long time friends who I only get to see every few years……and what a shame. We must not let this occur any more…….our lives are tooooo short.
And so……it was a good day…..a relaxing day…..a day that ended with much stimulating conversation and sooooo much laughter in our remembrances!! And……with that in mind…..
Life IS GREAT!!!!……and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
To: KANSAS CITY
“Everything’s up to date in Kansas City”…… I never come to KC that I don’t think about that great little song from the musical “Oklahoma!”. It has such an addictive tune and rhythms…….and some cute lyrics……and it brings back many fond memories of when I performed in the musical when I was in High School (waaaayyyy back in the late 50’s of the last century).
I hooked up TheHowserHouse and pulled out of F’town about 9:15 this morning…….made one “pit” stop for about 5 minutes. Then it was across the state….and I soon found myself struggling against a strong head wind…..UGH!!! TheHowserHouse front panel, which is the bedroom, is almost 13 feet tall….which makes it really difficult to make any time against strong head winds. When I filled up with gas upon arriving in KC, I had the worst gas mileage since we were in Wyoming last summer!!! I only made 10 miles to the gallon…….$2.47 for every ten miles, or $.25 per mile………oh well, it is only money!! But, hopefully the return trip will find the winds pushing me towards S.E. Missouri.
I had made reservations at the closest campground to Nationwide RV Sales/Service and was a bit disappointed when I arrived. MANY workers living here, no cable tv, no wifi throughout the cg(just in the office), and all the sights were terribly unlevel front to back and side to side. NOT GOOD!!! I certainly do question the ratings that Trailer Life CG Directory gave to them. WAY toooooo high!!!!!!!! Guess I will write a small letter to Trailer Life……HA…as if it will do any good!!
After getting the umbilical cords attached and functioning properly, I jumped into the truck and headed to a shopping area for a quick look around. Went to several shops such as Pier 1, Stein Mart, World Market, etc., etc. And then I noticed a Mexican restaurant in the same area and went over there to have dinner.
Welllllll, I was seated quickly and then the waiter arrives and asked me if I knew I had blood on my nose!!! No….I sure as hell didn’t know that and so I moistened my finger with my tongue and started to rub my nose. Well, the waiter then said that there was quite a bit of blood there, so I told him I would order and then hit the rest room. He had already brought my iced tea and chips/salsa. After I ordered, I checked out the men’s room and about fell over……my nose was COVERED in DRIED blood!!!!!! It looked like I had been in a real knock-down drag-out boxing match. I washed it off, which was not easy as it was WELL dried.….and then I started to laugh as I though back at all the places I had been to and the looks some of the people had given me, but at the time I thought nothing about it!!! HAHAHA!!!!! NOW I thought about it!!!!! HAHAHAHA……I DO wonder what they must have been thinking as they looked at me, showed me furniture, sold me a bottle of S. African cabernet, etc., etc., etc. HAHAHAHA……Good God, what a sight I must have been!!!! It IS a wonder no once called the police!!!!!
So, after cleaning myself up, grabbing some TP for blood dabbing, I headed back to my booth. HAHAHA…..they had taken my tea, chips/salsa and cleaned the table up!! I sat down….and the waiter came by and said something about an “over-eager bus boy” and then reserved the tea and chips/salsa. Soooo, before long my dinner arrived and after a couple of bites I realized that the damn black beans, the rice, and the enchiladas were NOT hot at all!!!!! Sooooo, I called the waiter back over and told him….and he took my plate and a LONG ten minutes later, he returned with a fresh plate that this time WAS hot!!! I don’t think it was my night to each Mexicano food!!!!!!
During the meal, I received a return call from friends of ours who lived in Eldon when we lived there…..and now live in Independence. I had called and left message upon arriving in the area……and so, after dinner I drove the three miles over to their home. We had such a GREAT time recalling past adventures and many people from years and years ago!!!!!!! For you avid readers……it was their son, a former drum major of mine, who visited me last October/November for a couple of days……..when he and I drank WAY tooooo many glasses of dark red medicine at one of the local wineries!!!!
I returned to the cg and TheHowserHouse which was dark and lonely all by itself without any of us there. Turning on the lights, I decided to check out the heat…..and now it is toasty warm inside.
Sooooo……the day ends well…..and all is well in TheHowserHouse…….and of course,
Life is GREAT.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!!
I hooked up TheHowserHouse and pulled out of F’town about 9:15 this morning…….made one “pit” stop for about 5 minutes. Then it was across the state….and I soon found myself struggling against a strong head wind…..UGH!!! TheHowserHouse front panel, which is the bedroom, is almost 13 feet tall….which makes it really difficult to make any time against strong head winds. When I filled up with gas upon arriving in KC, I had the worst gas mileage since we were in Wyoming last summer!!! I only made 10 miles to the gallon…….$2.47 for every ten miles, or $.25 per mile………oh well, it is only money!! But, hopefully the return trip will find the winds pushing me towards S.E. Missouri.
I had made reservations at the closest campground to Nationwide RV Sales/Service and was a bit disappointed when I arrived. MANY workers living here, no cable tv, no wifi throughout the cg(just in the office), and all the sights were terribly unlevel front to back and side to side. NOT GOOD!!! I certainly do question the ratings that Trailer Life CG Directory gave to them. WAY toooooo high!!!!!!!! Guess I will write a small letter to Trailer Life……HA…as if it will do any good!!
After getting the umbilical cords attached and functioning properly, I jumped into the truck and headed to a shopping area for a quick look around. Went to several shops such as Pier 1, Stein Mart, World Market, etc., etc. And then I noticed a Mexican restaurant in the same area and went over there to have dinner.
Welllllll, I was seated quickly and then the waiter arrives and asked me if I knew I had blood on my nose!!! No….I sure as hell didn’t know that and so I moistened my finger with my tongue and started to rub my nose. Well, the waiter then said that there was quite a bit of blood there, so I told him I would order and then hit the rest room. He had already brought my iced tea and chips/salsa. After I ordered, I checked out the men’s room and about fell over……my nose was COVERED in DRIED blood!!!!!! It looked like I had been in a real knock-down drag-out boxing match. I washed it off, which was not easy as it was WELL dried.….and then I started to laugh as I though back at all the places I had been to and the looks some of the people had given me, but at the time I thought nothing about it!!! HAHAHA!!!!! NOW I thought about it!!!!! HAHAHAHA……I DO wonder what they must have been thinking as they looked at me, showed me furniture, sold me a bottle of S. African cabernet, etc., etc., etc. HAHAHAHA……Good God, what a sight I must have been!!!! It IS a wonder no once called the police!!!!!
So, after cleaning myself up, grabbing some TP for blood dabbing, I headed back to my booth. HAHAHA…..they had taken my tea, chips/salsa and cleaned the table up!! I sat down….and the waiter came by and said something about an “over-eager bus boy” and then reserved the tea and chips/salsa. Soooo, before long my dinner arrived and after a couple of bites I realized that the damn black beans, the rice, and the enchiladas were NOT hot at all!!!!! Sooooo, I called the waiter back over and told him….and he took my plate and a LONG ten minutes later, he returned with a fresh plate that this time WAS hot!!! I don’t think it was my night to each Mexicano food!!!!!!
During the meal, I received a return call from friends of ours who lived in Eldon when we lived there…..and now live in Independence. I had called and left message upon arriving in the area……and so, after dinner I drove the three miles over to their home. We had such a GREAT time recalling past adventures and many people from years and years ago!!!!!!! For you avid readers……it was their son, a former drum major of mine, who visited me last October/November for a couple of days……..when he and I drank WAY tooooo many glasses of dark red medicine at one of the local wineries!!!!
I returned to the cg and TheHowserHouse which was dark and lonely all by itself without any of us there. Turning on the lights, I decided to check out the heat…..and now it is toasty warm inside.
Sooooo……the day ends well…..and all is well in TheHowserHouse…….and of course,
Life is GREAT.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!!
Monday, September 18, 2006
Two days......and I'm still here.
Abusy Sunday...yesterday....after having spent the previous 3 days in STL and at the Moser Estate. Soooo, we did spend some time just enjoying the morning paper and our normal intake of caffeine.
Then with the predictions of rain to arrive soon, I cranked up the lawn mower and fighting the heat and humidity.......I rushed around the lawn and finished in about 2.5 hours. EXHAUSTED from the humidity......it took me some down time and lots of water to get my sagging hulk up and going again. But.......I didn't get toooo much accomplished after that!!
Last night I fixed some thick (1.5"), boneless chops........browning them with fresh garlic and olive oil, and then simmering them in cream of mushroom soup with some cracked pepper for over an hour. Upon removing the chops from the sauce to let them rest, I added about a cup of riesling wine to the sauce, reduced it, and then covered the chops with this wonderful sauce. Ummmm.....wow, were they ever great!!!
Then we enjoyed The Amazing Race.....!!!! SOOOOO great to have it back on the tellie!!!!!!! Can't wait until the next installment!!!! Then we caught up with Survivor which we had Tivo'd while we were gone.........an interesting format this time.
Today.....well, I am leaving in the morning for Grain Valley(east Kansas City) to have some service done on my TheHowserHouse RV. My appointment is for Wed morning at 9am, so have to drive up there tomorrow. Not certain if they will get it done on Wed, or if I will have to call on some friends to "house" Howser (me) for the night. Time will tell.....
So, today I spent a bit of time, between the rain showers, getting things ready to travel tomorrow. I had planned to clean up the outside skin of TheHowserHouse, but the rains prevented me from working on it. But, did check all tires on the RV and the truck and got them up to their magic numbers of tire pressure for traveling across the state. Not loading any eatables......just some Fr. Roast for Wed morning and later on.
This evening the 1st Lady is in Farmington to have dinner with her former teacher friends who get together each month for dinner and socializing.
Soooo,.....there you have it!!!! A report on this aging hulk.......and my uninteresting Life here at TheHowserHouse. Whether you are addicted or not, I am always glad you are here......which helps to make me realize that .....
Life is GREAT......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
Then with the predictions of rain to arrive soon, I cranked up the lawn mower and fighting the heat and humidity.......I rushed around the lawn and finished in about 2.5 hours. EXHAUSTED from the humidity......it took me some down time and lots of water to get my sagging hulk up and going again. But.......I didn't get toooo much accomplished after that!!
Last night I fixed some thick (1.5"), boneless chops........browning them with fresh garlic and olive oil, and then simmering them in cream of mushroom soup with some cracked pepper for over an hour. Upon removing the chops from the sauce to let them rest, I added about a cup of riesling wine to the sauce, reduced it, and then covered the chops with this wonderful sauce. Ummmm.....wow, were they ever great!!!
Then we enjoyed The Amazing Race.....!!!! SOOOOO great to have it back on the tellie!!!!!!! Can't wait until the next installment!!!! Then we caught up with Survivor which we had Tivo'd while we were gone.........an interesting format this time.
Today.....well, I am leaving in the morning for Grain Valley(east Kansas City) to have some service done on my TheHowserHouse RV. My appointment is for Wed morning at 9am, so have to drive up there tomorrow. Not certain if they will get it done on Wed, or if I will have to call on some friends to "house" Howser (me) for the night. Time will tell.....
So, today I spent a bit of time, between the rain showers, getting things ready to travel tomorrow. I had planned to clean up the outside skin of TheHowserHouse, but the rains prevented me from working on it. But, did check all tires on the RV and the truck and got them up to their magic numbers of tire pressure for traveling across the state. Not loading any eatables......just some Fr. Roast for Wed morning and later on.
This evening the 1st Lady is in Farmington to have dinner with her former teacher friends who get together each month for dinner and socializing.
Soooo,.....there you have it!!!! A report on this aging hulk.......and my uninteresting Life here at TheHowserHouse. Whether you are addicted or not, I am always glad you are here......which helps to make me realize that .....
Life is GREAT......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Two days in the STL area
WOW......what a busy two days since we left on Thursday!!!! AND.....we made some purchases for our "kitchen-to-be".......new ss dishwasher, new ss microwave, faucet for the kitchen, new telephones for the bedroom and family room.....and a few other odds and ends!! A good day for making decisions!!
The 1st Lady had another appointment with her oral surgeon....which took all of five minutes. SURE glad it the visit was part of the overall total price!!!!
(Most of this was discussed in my previous blog.....sorry!!!)
Then we went out to the Moser Estate for the night. Lots of discussion concerning our upcoming trip to DisneyWorld in another week!!!
Friday....we were up and left to go to the Balloon Glow, which was held at Forest Park as part of the weekend 17th STL Balloon Race! WOW........was it ever something....tens of thousands of people there watching them inflate the HUGE balloons with hot air, and then as it became dark they would sound an air horn and all the balloons handlers would turn on the "gas" and light up the balloons for about 45 seconds!!!! WHAT a spectacular sight!!!!! GORGEOUS!!!! There were 65 balloons in the group and it was something I had never seen before.....and certainly want to see AGAIN! Yep......it was exciting!!!!!
Back to the Moser Estate for the night.......and then a hurried trip to pick up Rachel, and along with Dr. Jeni and two girls, we all went back to Forest Park for the afternoon entertainment, FOOD, and thousands and thousands and thousands of people waiting for the balloons to inflate and begin the race.
Well, THANK goodness we saw the Energizer Bunny at the Balloon Glow.....by the way, it is the TALLEST balloon in the world.......17 stores which makes it taller than the Statue of Liberty!! It couldn't be inflated today because the winds were tooooooooo strong, but they did get about 20 of the balloons up and heading north with the winds this afternoon. What a sight!!!
We returned home this evening.......very sun burned and a wee bit tired. Soooo, I will attempt to post some pics from both events......I took MANY pics and will put more on as time goes by.
With events to enjoy that are only an hour or so from here, ........
Life IS Great......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!
The 1st Lady had another appointment with her oral surgeon....which took all of five minutes. SURE glad it the visit was part of the overall total price!!!!
(Most of this was discussed in my previous blog.....sorry!!!)
Then we went out to the Moser Estate for the night. Lots of discussion concerning our upcoming trip to DisneyWorld in another week!!!
Friday....we were up and left to go to the Balloon Glow, which was held at Forest Park as part of the weekend 17th STL Balloon Race! WOW........was it ever something....tens of thousands of people there watching them inflate the HUGE balloons with hot air, and then as it became dark they would sound an air horn and all the balloons handlers would turn on the "gas" and light up the balloons for about 45 seconds!!!! WHAT a spectacular sight!!!!! GORGEOUS!!!! There were 65 balloons in the group and it was something I had never seen before.....and certainly want to see AGAIN! Yep......it was exciting!!!!!
Back to the Moser Estate for the night.......and then a hurried trip to pick up Rachel, and along with Dr. Jeni and two girls, we all went back to Forest Park for the afternoon entertainment, FOOD, and thousands and thousands and thousands of people waiting for the balloons to inflate and begin the race.
Well, THANK goodness we saw the Energizer Bunny at the Balloon Glow.....by the way, it is the TALLEST balloon in the world.......17 stores which makes it taller than the Statue of Liberty!! It couldn't be inflated today because the winds were tooooooooo strong, but they did get about 20 of the balloons up and heading north with the winds this afternoon. What a sight!!!
We returned home this evening.......very sun burned and a wee bit tired. Soooo, I will attempt to post some pics from both events......I took MANY pics and will put more on as time goes by.
With events to enjoy that are only an hour or so from here, ........
Life IS Great......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!
Thursday, September 14, 2006
A "BAM" of a day!!
“BAM!!”……and the day was over with. Oh yeah……..it went just that fast for the 1st Lady and myself. We were up a bit earlier than usual…..went up to spend until after lunch with Mike, and then headed on to STL.
Our first stop was at the American Furniture and Appliance Center…..and did some looking and price-gathering on microwaves and dish washers. With those prices in hand, we head to Manchester, on the western edge of STL to the appliance store where we purchased our new gas range. Their main gimmick in advertising is that if they can’t beat another store’s price, they will give the customer a new Lexus. Wellllllll, of course they will beat the prices!!! As one of their
salesmen told us, they will give the appliance to a customer free before they have to give a new Lexus away…….and that makes perfectly good sense.
And soooo, guess what?? They lowered their price on a microwave to just below the price at the American store…….did I expect anything less? NO…..of course not. However, they were so manipulative about the way they “sold” it to us, that I believe we have decided not to buy from them, but to spend two extra dollars and purchase the microwave from the first store. Granted…..they DID have the best price on the gas range……$200 less than any other place, but this time…..well, it just sort of pissed us both off by the way they juggled the figures around!! Oh well…….
By that time, it was almost 7pm……and so we headed to the STL Bread Company, now known as Panera Bread, for a wholesome soup and sandwich. OMG, but do I ever love that place…….the bread is sooooo good, the soups are wonderful, and the salads are just almost perfect. And…..the wonderful thing is that they change their menu sooooo often and are continually adding new items for more variety in flavors and textures. SOOO GOOD!!!! If only they had some dark red medicine to help with my digestion!!!
After that, we headed west and out to the Moser Estate for the night. The two little ones were awake and waiting for us to get there……and so we had almost an hour with them entertaining us before they began to show overt signs of needing to go to bed.
Tomorrow, we don’t have to be back in the city until 3pm for a follow-up appointment with the 1st Lady’s oral surgeon. That shouldn’t take long at all…….I HOPE!!! And then we will head to Forest Park in the center of the city…….it is the original grounds for the 1904 World’s Fair, for those of you who are not familiar with STL. Saturday they will have the 17the annual STL Balloon Race………the BIG balloons with the little hanging baskets below them with people dangling out staring down at those of us who are staring up at them….haha! Tomorrow night they will “light” the balloons after dark……allowing the lights to shine through the balloons…..on the ground. Then the race begins Saturday afternoon….which we are planning to be there to see……our first time for this!
And so……..goes our “BAM!!” of a day! It flashed by in such a hurry……another day of Life for me has disappeared……don’t you wonder how many days there are left???? Guess it is not a good idea to have that information…….probably more than we need to know….right???? And, even without that knowledge,…….
Life IS Great……and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
Our first stop was at the American Furniture and Appliance Center…..and did some looking and price-gathering on microwaves and dish washers. With those prices in hand, we head to Manchester, on the western edge of STL to the appliance store where we purchased our new gas range. Their main gimmick in advertising is that if they can’t beat another store’s price, they will give the customer a new Lexus. Wellllllll, of course they will beat the prices!!! As one of their
salesmen told us, they will give the appliance to a customer free before they have to give a new Lexus away…….and that makes perfectly good sense.
And soooo, guess what?? They lowered their price on a microwave to just below the price at the American store…….did I expect anything less? NO…..of course not. However, they were so manipulative about the way they “sold” it to us, that I believe we have decided not to buy from them, but to spend two extra dollars and purchase the microwave from the first store. Granted…..they DID have the best price on the gas range……$200 less than any other place, but this time…..well, it just sort of pissed us both off by the way they juggled the figures around!! Oh well…….
By that time, it was almost 7pm……and so we headed to the STL Bread Company, now known as Panera Bread, for a wholesome soup and sandwich. OMG, but do I ever love that place…….the bread is sooooo good, the soups are wonderful, and the salads are just almost perfect. And…..the wonderful thing is that they change their menu sooooo often and are continually adding new items for more variety in flavors and textures. SOOO GOOD!!!! If only they had some dark red medicine to help with my digestion!!!
After that, we headed west and out to the Moser Estate for the night. The two little ones were awake and waiting for us to get there……and so we had almost an hour with them entertaining us before they began to show overt signs of needing to go to bed.
Tomorrow, we don’t have to be back in the city until 3pm for a follow-up appointment with the 1st Lady’s oral surgeon. That shouldn’t take long at all…….I HOPE!!! And then we will head to Forest Park in the center of the city…….it is the original grounds for the 1904 World’s Fair, for those of you who are not familiar with STL. Saturday they will have the 17the annual STL Balloon Race………the BIG balloons with the little hanging baskets below them with people dangling out staring down at those of us who are staring up at them….haha! Tomorrow night they will “light” the balloons after dark……allowing the lights to shine through the balloons…..on the ground. Then the race begins Saturday afternoon….which we are planning to be there to see……our first time for this!
And so……..goes our “BAM!!” of a day! It flashed by in such a hurry……another day of Life for me has disappeared……don’t you wonder how many days there are left???? Guess it is not a good idea to have that information…….probably more than we need to know….right???? And, even without that knowledge,…….
Life IS Great……and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
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