Not Too Busy of a Week

I stayed home finishing up laundry, putting things away, mail, etc.  

I had to scan my newly arrived passport into our cruise account to finish our registration.  It came right after we left!  We now have been moved to Green Line for boarding and can sign up for excursions, dinner times, shows, etc. Our ID medallion and lanyards are now going to be mailed to us free of charge with our Plus package.  It gives us lots of perks which I intend to make good use of.  Tips, Wi-Fi, alcoholic and all specialty drinks and desserts, two specialty dinners and exercise classes.  All requests are available by delivery to us no matter where we are on the ship. I plan to have a French vanilla cappuccino, sweet n low, no sugar delivered to my room each morning.  I probably will get room service breakfast too to eat on our verandah.  And a glass or two of white wine at dinner.  Maybe a margarita at the lounge shows.  Ted will make use of those specialty desserts depending on what is offered at lunch and dinner.  

I also had to download the results of my doctor appt in Michigan when I saw my doctor here on Thursday. Surprisingly, I had gained no weight since we left mid July and ate our way across the Midwest!  I have 10# to get back to my WW goal weight I hit in August 2018 but I had to lose them when we left!  Since I was out I got my nails done before coming home.  Other than that, not much has happened.  

Our daughter had surgery to have a vein removed in her leg.  It could not be stripped because it was not straight, looked more like a meandering river.  It took 21 small incisions to remove it all.  She is doing ok.  Our son-in-law Bill had a heart cath and a stent inserted.  Another cath needs to be done down the road. Lots of things to pray about.

Kristin sent me a Lladro birthday girl carrying a piece of cake to represent CeCe in our Lladro family.  We share the same birthday and she is too young to know her special interests.  I was given one of my sister’s angels.  It looks like a Lladro but is not.  It matches really well though and Aunt Karen joins us as the angel she was. 

Ted’s birthday was Wednesday but we did nothing special.  Our birthday and Christmas presents were the Grand Floridian 5 day stay and our tickets to the Andre Rieu concert.  Kelly sent a Delta gift card too.  We were more than delighted with these gifts and they appreciate giving us things we will enjoy more than a thing and would probably not buy for ourselves.  But I can get used to this first class style of travel!  

The Reunion and then Home

About 60 of our class attended the 60th reunion.  I am peeking out straight behind from the gal in lime green.  It was great catching up with so many!  We had a class of just over 200.  With 35 deceased, we were at about half accounted for.  

I won a mug with our emblem and year on one side and 60th reunion written on the other for having come the farthest!  

This was our table, no rhyme or reason who sat where but my BFF since 1950 is the dark hair in blue next to me.

We were up early and left Dan’s in Cincinnati about 7:45 am.  We drove to Little Rock AR stopping about 7 pm.  We went to a pizza place next to Hilton’s Tru hotel where we stayed and turned in immediately after.  The next day we arrived home about 2 pm.  It was 100 degrees!  Yep, we were home.

We unloaded the car, cleaned up, went to church, came home, too tired to eat.  I went to bed about 8 and slept until 5 am.  I worked for 8 hours getting everything unpacked and put away.  Terry and Carol were in town to attend a friend’s birthday party so they took us to dinner and came back to our house to visit.

It was great waking up in my own bed.  I only had 73 days of mail to go through and all that would entail.  About 3, I took a nap until Ted woke me to eat dinner.  Now to return to our normal life for awhile.  

Weekend at Elk Lake

We loaded up with our food contribution for the weekend and headed to Kentucky, just an hour’s drive.  Our pass was ready at the entrance and we were admitted to Elk Lake Resort.  Ted hates the 3 mile drive half way round the lake to arrive at Tim and Cindy’s.  Very hilly!  

No one else was visiting so we got the old master and hall bath to ourselves.  Tim built a master suite where he and Cindy have a bedroom, office, bath, laundry room and walk in closet!  He is amazing.  He fixed breakfast all 3 mornings using our 2# block of goetta for our pleasure.  They like it too!

I have 4 relatives with houses on Elk Lake and 3 of the 4 had visitors.  A group of us went to the Elk Creek Winery for the evening.

We closed the place down!  On Saturday, a group went to Elk Creek shooting range while we hosted whoever came by in a boat to enjoy drinks and snacks on our dock.  By 8 pm Ed and Tim were grilling steaks and chicken.  I had brought a dozen twice baked potatoes, prepared 2-3# of fresh green beans and made two key lime pies.  It was supplemented with vegetable tray, salad, mac and cheese, etc.  We put Golden Corral to shame. 

Vicki surprised us with a birthday cake for our upcoming birthdays.  It was a Nothing Bundt cake and a dozen Mini Bundt cupcakes.  

The next day we drove to Brookfield, IN to Tim and Cindy’s youngest of 8 grandchildren who was celebrating her 2nd birthday.  We had taken the birthday cake and one key lime pie home so took them along,  Amy had bought spice cupcakes but no cake so we got some more mileage out of the cake by removing the bow and used the #2 candle for Kayla to blow out.  In the end, the cake was gone, the pie was gone but some cupcakes were left.  I went to bed at 8 pm!  

Monday we spent the morning at the lake and in the afternoon headed to Union, KY to have dinner at the home of Karen and Bill Fox.  Karen and I started working at Procter and Gamble in August, 1963.  We became instant best friends.  We always make time to see them; last summer we had them for dinner at the motorhome.  We arrived “home” at 10 pm.

We had lunch Tuesday with our Maid of Honor and Best Man who happened to marry not too long after us.  I was saddened to learn she has the beginning of Parkinson’s.  I guess that is why she had not chosen to attend the reunion.  Her walk is slow and her husband said she may need help in the bathroom but she was fine with handicap bars.  And our other friend who we went to school with, I worked with at P&G, was also in my wedding and is Kara’s godmother, died the weekend before.  We hoped to attend her funeral but it will not be until mid October.  We seem to be losing people right and left!

Ted’s siblings called on Wednesday and asked us to join them for lunch at The Cabana on the Ohio River for lunch.  We had a great visit and talked about dates for our February get together in Destin FL.  Barb and Kevin rent a huge house for the month and many are invited so it is necessary to start choosing dates for the 10 of us to focus on a timeframe.

Not to be outdone, two nephews of mine and their spouses called to set up dinner at Whiskey’s at 6:pm.  Ted had no problem ordering a roast pork dinner but I settled on peanut slaw (delicious) and French onion soup.  A fine ending to our family visits.

Tomorrow is my reunion and Friday we hit the road!  

More Time at Kristin’s

We returned to Kristin’s Tuesday while Kara and Bill stayed the night at Beach Club after an evening at the Food and Wine festival at Epcot.  

Ted spent hours on end with CeCe in the pool joined by Kristin and eventually Kara and Bill.  Bill fixed a few light switches and hung a laundry rack for Kristin. We did our best to make a dent in the remaining food making single serving size packets for Kristin to freeze.  

Kara wanted to go to Gator Lilly, a Lilly Pulitzer outlet.  The four of us went but I was the only one who bought anything, two pairs of slacks, getting ready for our Thanksgiving cruise.

Friday night we went to Giovanni’s at Bill’s  request.  It is  the restaurant we used for Kristin’s 50th birthday party and he likes it. 

Saturday was a flurry of getting out by 9 am to get to the airport in plenty of time.  Bill had to drop off the rental car and the rest of us were in Kristin’s car.

We got all checked in, checked 2 bags (no charge due to Ted’s silver status) so were able to drop them with a skycap and go on.  Our flight was full and I was blessed with a young mother, a 2 and 3 year old in two seats with more luggage than you can imagine!  The kids were fine except for one outburst that caused me to ask if she wanted out to walk him.  When he calmed down a much older child in front of us started screaming for his mother across the aisle.  The last half hour flying and the 20 minute wait for a gate was spent listening to this.  I don’t understand why whoever was in the mother’s window seat didn’t take the across the aisle seat so the kid could sit next to his mother.  I told God I was going to stop praying for patience if this was the test!  One funny moment was when CeCe who had not made one peep while watching the cartoons just shouted out “ I can’t hear”!

We all went to church Sunday and I got another noisy, car playing, crayon drawing on the pews boy who drowned out the sermon.  Our sermon was on asking two persons to approach a person who needed a fault pointed out versus gossiping about them.  I was thinking of asking Kelly and Kara to approach this lady with me about the Cry Room!  I renewed my threat to no longer pray for patience.  

We all had dinner Sunday at Kelly’s.  Kelly watched CeCe on Monday and we and Kara had her the rest of the week.  Today is Monday and she should be back in school!  

Wednesday night was the concert!  Spectacular!  We enjoyed dinner at The Middle Board at Caesar Arena before taking our Row 6, aisle seats.

It was all we hoped it would be!  I was so proud of myself in purchasing the parking and managing the admission tickets electronically on my phone seamlessly.  That was on top of plane boarding passes for us three coming and going to Florida.  Late to the party but I am learning!

The next day we headed to Cincinnati and “moved in” to Ted’s brother’s house.  He is on a golf trip so we are “house sitting again.”  The next day we left for the weekend at Elk Lake!

Mass, Hoop Dee Doo Review and the Rest of our WDW vacation.

We all went to Mass at a church in Celebration, FL.  Mary Queen of the Universe is closer to Disney but a nightmare with one way in and out!  We learned that lesson years ago.

CeCe was perfectly behaved and quiet during Mass.  At communion time, without any prompting, she followed Bill out of the pew, crossed her arms across her chest in preparation for a blessing.  She waited for the blessing and keeping her arms crossed across her body, walked back to our pew.  The whole front row was poking and pointing at this tiny little girl in her pink flamingo dress doing exactly what she was supposed to, on her own, with no instruction.  It made this great grandma proud and I give her Grammie credit for teaching her.  But then I taught “Grammie” when she was 3!  

We spent the rest of the day at the pool with no cabana this time but there are plenty of lounges and tables to use.  Our evening meal and entertainment was the Hoop Dee Doo Review at Fort Wilderness.  It is a slapstick music, dancing, comedy show and CeCe loved it.

She joined in the red napkin dance (like the second line funeral dance of New Orleans) twirling for all she was worth.  She played the washboard with a spoon, joined in the conga line and used three straws  to make a trumpet that she played with her fingers.  If I can figure out how to save these videos to my album I will share them!  When we left she said that was fun and let’s do it again!

When we went to Disney Springs we came across this store.  CeCe’s name for Ted is Pops so we had to get his photo under the sign.  I have no idea what they sell!  Later at home I was calling him to do something for her and he wasn’t hearing me and I said “he can’t hear too well.”  She screamed POPS and he finally said “What?”  She said “he can hear well now!”

On Tuesday we went to the Art of Animation hotel complex.  There was a Nemo group, Ariel, Lion King, etc.  Each area had multiple sculptures and scenes with playgrounds and pools thrown in.  This is CeCe running through a rock tunnel.  It is fun for kids but there are too many for me to ever consider staying there.  

Wednesday we had to check out of the Grand Floridian but Kara and Bill had a one night reservation at the Beach Club so they could attend the food and wine festival at Epcot and have a date night.  However, because their studio sleeps 5, all of us adults were on the reservation so we received wrist bands and stayed the whole day using the biggest pool at Disney (I think that’s what they said). 

There is a sand beach, lazy river, huge pirate slide for adults and a smaller one for kids.  To control entrance there is only one way in where you must display the day’s wrist band.  There are bridges and walkways, etc. but only one way in or out of the pool area.  I found it too big to keep an eye on kids but CeCe loved playing in the sand with hotel toys and other kids.  Once she found the slide she rode it over and over and over!  

On Thursday we drove to Ponce Inlet to have lunch with our best FL friends from when we lived there 1996-2001.  We traveled in our RVs together over the years and spent winters together in the Rio Grande Valley.  Tom had bladder cancer this past year and they sold their motorhome.  He is doing really well and looks about 15 years younger than his 80 years!  

We met half way for each of us at the Races North Turn restaurant.  It sits right on the beach and was where the original race held in the sand would turn to go back to Daytona!  We sat outside overlooking the ocean.  It was CeCe’s first look at it.  

Her lunch was served in a cardboard 1955 Ford Fairlane box that she brought home along with some seashells.  More hours in the pool with coneys for dessert ended our day.  

A Day at the Magic Kingdom

I need to start with this photo.  Auntie Ra (CeCe’s name for Kara) finds being at the park early important so when they “drop the rope” you are in!  You can walk as far as the castle while waiting.  CeCe didn’t quite join in this enthusiasm when awakened so early.  Her face tells it all.  

She soon joined in the festivities and enjoyed the day.  We were able to go all morning followed by lunch at The Plaza after the noon parade, a short monorail ride back to the Grand Floridian for a nap, then back to the park to close it at 10 pm.  

She liked the “ghost ride” best!  By tapping your Magic Band you get a goodbye message at the end of the Small World ride.  She hated the teacups last time but was fine this time with no spinning!  She gave Auntie Kristin a “jerky” ride as she turned the wheel side to side!  She calls Small World the “dolly ride” and she and Kristin were identifying countries.  I have been unable to ride a horse since my hip operations but I got on … and off … all in one motion.  Nope!  Still cannot do it so I just stood by CeCe!  

We closed the place down at 10 pm having ridden most every ride.  It was not too hot a day, the crowd wasn’t bad.  Since we had Genie Plus, our longest wait was under 10 minutes!  We made our way down Main Street, hopped on the monorail and were “home” in a matter of minutes.  We all slept well that night!  

Living the Good Life

We loaded up all our stuff into two cars and traveled an hour down I-4 to Disney.  We flashed our Mickey Magic Bands at the security guy and proceeded to The Villas at the Grand Floridian Hotel.  This is a DVC (Disney Vacation Club) property so everyone greets you with “Welcome Home.”  We expected to be “homeless” up until 4 pm but our room was ready!  We were able to have our bags all delivered to our room.  We went ahead and headed to the pool and the cabana Kara had rented for the day.

Besides couches, a fan, stocked drinks in the refrigerator and a pool boy, we had snacks, fruit tray, and dessert tray.  We ordered chicken tenders for lunch and they were brought quickly.  It started raining in the late afternoon so we hurried back to our apartment to unpack and call for the groceries Kara had ordered and Kara’s owner locker where she keeps necessities so she doesn’t have to bring them each visit. 

She had made and froze several meals while visiting Kristin in June so we had meatballs and spaghetti for dinner.  Then we took a walk to the sandy beach to watch the electric boat parade before retiring for the night.

CeCe joined me on the verandah in the morning while I had my coffee and she had a “polished bagel” (glazed donut - think about its appearance to a precocious 3.5 year old!) along with a dish of strawberries.

After getting dressed, she spent time with Pops on the veranda too.

We spent the morning at the pool again where she collected a rubber bunny and two rubber ducks from the lifeguards.  

By lunch time we were all ready for a bite to eat and decided we really needed to attack all those groceries back in the apartment.  So leftovers and sandwiches made a bit of a dent in the refrigerator. 

It was clouding up so we chose to go to Disney Springs to get a Lily Pulitzer dress and ball cap for Morgan.  Ted and I sat and people watched while a Star Wars shirt purchase was made for Sam.  Our observation: people come in all sizes and colors but not too many have full length mirrors!  

Dinner was apricot chicken followed by a piano concert in the newly remodeled and literally just opened lobby.  CeCe asked the pianist, dressed in tails, to play “It’s A Small World” and he did!  He asked if she wanted him to play “Frozen” and she said “nope.”

It was close to her bedtime so we all returned to the apartment to prepare our clothes and backpacks for our day at the Magic Kingdom.  More on that later!