Pen Pals - 2013 Style

"So, I'm off to meet this person I met on the Internet..."  While that might seem scary to most, it was a natural for me today.  I got to meet Denise from PA in person at our mutual happy place - Disney World!

Many people think that the Internet and other modern technology prohibit real human interaction.  Maybe they have a point.  Maybe people don't meet others like they used to.  For me, it's been a way to catch up with classmates I grew up with but haven't connected with since the 1970s.  I've learned a little bit of where they are today and what they're doing and who their families are.

I've also had the chance to meet people that I might never meet otherwise.  Such is the case with Denise.  She started reading my blog years ago when the girls and I blogged about a Disney cruise we were on.  Somehow through the years, she kept reading.  She also started commenting on my blog and then I started reading her blog - at least the parts I could understand.

See, Denise speaks another language - I call it quiltese.  In other words, she's a master quilter who quilts beautiful masterpieces when she's not cooking or decorating her house for holidays or working or probably promoting world peace.  I read her blog in quiltese and understand very little, but like a toddler, I like looking at the pictures.  Anyhow, in spite of this big difference, we have managed to bond over our common love of all things Disney (like cruises and DVC and hoarding Disney toiletries).

It just so happened that this weekend our respective Disney trips overlapped, albeit by about 24 hours.  She and her hubs came down last night for a pre-vacay before their Sunday cruise (nope, not jealous - much) and Molly and I are here for the Tower of Terror 10-Miler (yep - she is jealous I'm sure - and will probably cry herself to sleep tonight at 10pm while I am sweating and gearing up to attempt those 10 miles in the hot humid Florida weather).

Anyhow, we arranged to meet up at Ghirardelli for an 11am snack (think a chocolate liquid lunch).  As I rode the bus to Downtown Disney, I couldn't help but wonder would she like me, would she take one look and decide I wasn't what she expected, would we have anything to say past hello (yes, I am in middle school).  I needn't have worried at all.  After a hug and hello, we spent the next hour chatting like old friends.  She gave me a kleenex holder made from material from the Animator's Palate waiter's vests (if you don't understand the reference, you need to go Disney cruising). 

The moral of this story is that I never really did the pen pal thing. (If you are reading this and tried to pen pal with a girl from Mississippi in the 1960s - my apologies for never writing back).  But today I felt like those people who finally meet their pen pals.  It was the realization of a picture becoming real, of a voice becoming audible, and of a friend becoming ingrained in my heart.  What a magical day!!

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Today was a great day because I:  slept late-ish; met Denise and imbibed on Ghirardelli; got an Animator's Palate kleenex holder; had a late lunch at Big River

Leg One of This Trip

Leg One of this current trip consists of Disney World and a 10-mile wog on Saturday night.  It's also the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot, so today we partook of those yummy treats.  We met up with Katie, ate a little breakfast and did a little shopping at Downtown Disney, did a quick run at the outlet mall, and ended up doing a little creative parking at Wide World of Sports to get out stuff for the race.

Once back at the hotel, we headed out for the Festival, loading up a wristlet gift card to pay for our food samples.  Between Katie, Molly, and I, we managed to burn through that gift card (and Katie's) and several of the countries.

Our favorites?  Pork Slider from Hawaii.  Lobster Roll from America.  Pepper Shrimp from China.  Schinken Nudel from Germany.  Lamb Chop from Australia.  Trenta Passion Tea from Starbucks (it was H-O-T outside). 

Anyhoo, after an afternoon siesta back at the room, we headed out for a few more treats before Katie left to meet a friend and Molly and I headed out for a little late-night shopping, eventually landing back in the room and heading for bed.

Tomorrow will be a very interesting day!

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Today was a great day because:  we met up with Katie for lots of adventures; fun times parking at the mall and the Wide World of Sports; getting our race packets and shopping at the expo; lots of food tastings at Epcot

Gettin' Places

The good news is that I got packed - in a carry-on, for two different types of trips.  I also got a lot of stuff done and picked up the house enough so I didn't leave it in a mess (at least for my standards).  There wasn't any bad news - the rest of the day was spent gettin'.

We got to the airport in plenty of time for a bite.  We got on the plane (Molly boarded first) and ended up behind an unhappy baby, who fortunately for everyone, went to sleep pretty much after take-off.

We got to Orlando after a smooth, safe ride (and a nap from Molly).  We got to the rental car place and got to our rental car with little effort (although the car lot dude seemed a bit confused as to which cars were actually the ones we could pick from).

We got to our hotel without fanfare and got checked in with little wait.  We got to our room and admired our view - of the loading area for baggage storage.

We got to the pizza place on the Boardwalk - the only place open at that time of night for a bite to eat. Finally, we got to our ultimate location - the bed for a lovely night sleep.  Let the vacay begin!!

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Today was a great day because:  I got everything packed into the suitcase; had a safe, smooth ride to Orlando; Everley time; pizza on the Boardwalk; good room location; lovely night's sleep

The Year Was 2007

Yesterday was the San Diego walk with Marilyn - today is the Twin Cities walk with Lynnette (try spending two nights in a pup tent with YOUR mother-in-law!).  It was a great walk, full of the stories and remembrances that make this experience so special and unforgettable.

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Today was a great day because:  I spent the morning with Everley after her check-up and shots at the pediatrician; packages arriving and delivered; getting a lot of laundry done; spending some time with Everley at her house; getting a lot of the house picked up

It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Because it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we're only 10 days away from our 3-Day walk, I wanted to post this video for the umpteenth time.  I post it for walkers and supporters and survivors and those who lost their battle with this disease.  I post it with the hope that a cure will be found and all those who come after me will have other things to fight and pink ribbons will become a thing of the past.  I post it because of the love that surrounds anyone touched by this disease - and that will include all of us in one way or the other.  My wish - a world without breast cancer.

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Today was a great day because:  I took a different car to the Toyota place today and everyone was just as nice as they were yesterday; standing in line for a long time at Comcast, people-watching and getting a quick fix to my cable box issue; picking up Lindley at school; Larry pictures via Steve; Lindley and Everley time; Sam picking up CPK dinner