ABCs of A Trip Worth Waiting For + PNWMM: P: A Practically Perfect Pacific NW Mouse Meet- pg. 26

Congrats on the change in classification!!!! On all levels!!!! Per Part time and Grandma. At least that is what I would call it at work... which is where I seem to spend too much time.
Safe travels !!! I will pop in as I can. Life is crazy right now.
 
Hey look what happens when I am busy? You lose your camera bag, get it back WITH the camera, have a fabulous breakfast meet up, find all the hidden dustbunnies in your room, get a promotion, fry your brain at pilot school and? Oh YEAH! Find out you will be a Grandma!!!!! :jumping1: CONGRATS! I'm so happy for you! We went to Okinawa when mine were 3 and 18months. I know now it must have been heartbreaking for my mom. We had no Skype or cell phones then, no internet, and phone calls were about $40/min. No exaggeration. Of course you know after practically raising my Myles and Londynn to ages 4 and almost 2, their mommy and daddy decided to move to Texas. I was devastated. Now we live near them and only see our West coast geands, Mason and Evan once or twice a year. It is so hard, but we call every couple of weeks, and we Skype occasionally. We just make the best of it.
That being said, I am awake now at 2am because of work changes. I am used to having 3 weeks of PTO and pretty much calling the shots. I have found out that contrary to what I was told before leaving for HI in March, when the merger of our clinic with another one takes place Aug 1, I will not be managing, but billing as management is in place. That is fine, but I will be taking 20 hrs with me, and only earning at 2 hrs per pay period. This mama bear is SCREAMING inside because I won't be able to get to my West Coast babies for a long time! Of course opportunities to earn more go up with time served, but kids grow up fast and elderly parents have needs too. I have already told them it won't work for me, and I don't know if I can stay. They say they are really couting on me to be there aND I am on the transition team, but they need to be fair to their current employees.. On the other hand, starting fresh somewhere else would look the same in alot of cases in this city.
I say all that to say it is REALLY hard to be a Grandma long distance, but you can find ways to make the best of it. You will find yourself finding ways to stay in touch, but also to get over there and play before baby gets too big!
 
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As someone who was much better in math & science in school, it's funny how the complaints about these problems echo my own problems with English class. I'd read a passage about a character contemplating a pig in a butcher shop, killed in his prime to be a meal for others. What does this animal symbolize? What is the meaning to our protagonist?

And I'd shrug my shoulders and say, "I dunno. The guy's probably hungry and thinking, 'Mmm....bacon.'"

And I was thinking if anyone here could slove that problem for Liesa it would be you
:rotfl2:
 


I can't believe I had completely forgotten about this TR! I read everything (besides the first page) over the weekend, so now I'm caught up again.

Congrats on the job offer! That should help even things out.

That airport hotel sounded pretty sketchy! I've been doing a bit of Pokemon tournament travel with dd, and I'm always trying to find places that are affordable but not scary. That sounds a little like the reviews of a place I quickly decided was NOT an option for us, lol. Glad to see you survived!

Sounds like you had a great time at your DiSmeet, but that doesn't surprise me at all!

Btw, I'm paying a lot of attention to the Anaheim hotel discussion, since Pokemon Worlds will be at the Anaheim Convention center, and dd clinched her invite! I still have to figure out how to pay for this trip, but I'm scoping things out. The crazy thing is, it is right after school starts, so there may not be any time for DL or DCA, even though we would be right across the street! (Dd is also incredibly focused on keeping in her Pokemon bubble on tournament trips, so she wouldn't be up for Dismeets)
 
Oh no! I feel you on this. That sinking feeling when you know it's gone.

That horrible, "I'm doomed" feeling.

So true. I used the cell phone to help mark where I was too, so I wouldn't forget.

Works for just jogging the memory, but not so great for quality photos.

You need another trip to Cafe Du Monde and a side trip to Pat O's.

Yes! Yes, I do! I've not heard of Pat O's; a smaller scale Du Monde??

What a relief that you were able to get your camera bag back. I would go insane as well if I can't find it. I always make sure I go through my car rental after I leave it.

I really thought I had! I remember I had to make a couple of trips to and from the room to get stuff out, and was probably just so anxious to get done with the return process I didn't check it one last time. I DO remember popping the trunk one last time though.

Congrats to the new member of your family later this year.

Thanks, Bret! Such an exciting milestone to reach. :)

Exactly why I didn't do it.
I knew I didn't want to put myself in that position.

But kudos to you for doing it.

.... and here I am. When I started it, I was getting ZERO hours, not almost 40. Funny how life can take some pretty serious curves.


I need one. So coolio!

Better than the reverse.

Sadly, you've seen my awkward hand; I'm quite adept at using it too, ergo spilling perfectly delightful drinks at swanky places.

Like under your nose?

How did we get back onto the coke finger conversation?????

I've had a lot of things under my nose, like jars of mystery things from the fridge, suspect baby bottoms, etc..., but never any white powders.

Well, we couldn't have that, now could we?

Absolutely NO! (What were we talking about?)

Nah. You're usually pretty easy to understand. Once in a while I get confused (okay... I get confused a lot) but that's my fault, not yours.

I'll set you straight then.

Massive confusion on both sides ensues....

Hmm... how about a pool? Can you put in a pool too? Maybe a couple of Corvettes in the garage?

Pool? No. Corvettes? No, those go in MY garage.

Side story:

I was talking with a surgeon the other day, and somehow we got on the subject of his car, and I asked him what he drove. "What do you drive, a Corvette?"

"What do you think I am, White Trash??"

:scared1::scared1::scared1::scared1::scared1:

:lmao::lmao::lmao::lmao::lmao:

Yes, he's a pottyhole.

Oh! Got it.

So you're saying that wouldn't be the best time to pop in for those egg rolls you make.

No, pop in any time. You just may not get any eggrolls. If you want eggrolls I need a 3 hour warning.

Lasagna??? Why didn't you say so! I would've said yes a lot sooner!

Now I know. :D

Nope. Not me. What do you mean, Liesa?

I'm going to gracefully just let this one slide into the archives of edgy Trip Reporting history.


Deodorant failure imminent. Bwoop, bwoop.

Oh, that's right!

So... umm.... what did I have?

Hmmm.... Pretty sure it was an English muffin? I DO remember Betsey had fruit. with whipped cream.

You do know I'm part German, right?

But I'm sure you were referring to someone else.

Probably @franandaj

Yes, I know that.

Perhaps I was??

Right now, thousands of readers are sitting in their National car rentals trying to return them to Alamo.

This reminds me, I'd better check my rental car for this week!!! It'd be JUST like me to show up at the wrong counter and have a hissy that they didn't have my car ready.

You had a red bandana on?

Gangsta Girl!

Hmmm... I'd need more details before I can say one way or the other.
Doesn't look too bad, though.

Ummmm, those ARE the details. That was the sample problem in it's entirety.
 
Going to say Congrats on this thread too !! As for that math, I got a headache reading it , my answer would be who cares :rotfl2: Which is what I told my math teacher about one triangle equaling another !! :rotfl2: To this day I have never needed to know that :laughing:

I've used a fair amount of my math, but mostly to pass the next class I took that used it. As for real life...

Yeah, actually now in learning to fly.

As someone who was much better in math & science in school, it's funny how the complaints about these problems echo my own problems with English class. I'd read a passage about a character contemplating a pig in a butcher shop, killed in his prime to be a meal for others. What does this animal symbolize? What is the meaning to our protagonist?

And I'd shrug my shoulders and say, "I dunno. The guy's probably hungry and thinking, 'Mmm....bacon.'"

I hated that analysis too. Who cares; just enjoy the story and get what you want out of it at the time.

Congratulations again on your becoming a Glam-ma! So glad that you got your camera and equipment back - happy to see there are still helpful honest people left in the world.

In other good news, I got smarter and gave away this pair of high heels:

coach-black-cary-bootie-product-1-4859592-075851125.jpeg



Every time my ankle saw these beauties taunting us from the hall closet it started cringing and crying. Actually, couldn't even walk in them with healthy ankles anyways. Replacement:

mephisto-helen-multicoloured-monet-p25850-161577_image.jpg


Also got a pretty pink pedicure to go with them!

Thanks!! Can't wait to spoil my new little one!

Me too!! The rest of that trip would have definitely been a bit harder to enjoy fully!

Biko the pairs are super cute! I love those heels! But sandals are a sensible choice and are cute too; especially with a pink pedi!!
 


How exciting! You have a lot going on. First off congrats about the new impending baby arrival! Having not experienced it myself, I have been told that there is nothing like being a grandparent. I know you know how awesome my mother was with Nemo, and how much she loved sharing the world and World with him. I'm sure you'll be just as awesome with this kiddo, and please. It only makes you more fabulous. :thumbsup2

Thanks, Kat!!!

I've heard that time and time again as well, and while I am excited, it's a bit hard to believe too. Maybe by the time they get stationed back Stateside or he is discharged Baby will be old enough to enjoy a trip to WDW. :)

I totally understand that sinking feeling you got when you realized your camera was gone. I had a similar experience once, and it's the kind of story that sort of reaffirms faith in humanity. I was in Italy, and I had just graduated from college. I went with an organized group run by two of my art professors, and I had a blast. One night we were at a vineyard for tasting and dinner and I decided to buy a box of wine and have it shipped home.

That sounds a lot like my trip to Italy. It was a lot of fun!!

Can you see where this is going?

Sadly.... yes.

I waited exactly where I was told to, and do you know, that gentleman took time out from leading his huge tour to find me and give me my card? No crazy charges on it, no foul play of any kind. Just someone helping someone else and doing the right thing. It's really amazing when you think about it. I was so lucky. Had to share. :goodvibes

That is truly an amazing story of kindness. What a huge blessing he was to you; and I'm so happy that it turned out the way it did for you. That definitely could have ended very badly for you AND your chaperones. :(

Spoiler alert!

I have to throw out a few lures to keep you guys coming back...

Nice! Congratulations on that too! Well deserved!

Thanks! It'd be nice to have some more predictable hours come my way. (Did I mention 9.5 days of PTO I'll be getting as well?)

Well, there you go! Progress! :)

Little by little....

I can't speak for anyone else, but don't worry about mine. No rush.
Heck, you've already won the contest so you don't have to worry about any updates.

Pretty excited to have my prize hand delivered next week!! But, no, I'll still be around reading and adding my drivel comments as I can.


Well congratulations on the job offer!

Thanks, Alison!! It's nice to be a more permanent part of the team!

Have a great trip and we'll catch you when you get back.

Thanks on that too. I REALLY am trying to at least get caught up on comments before I go and will work on getting my phone photos from the Cali trip off the old phone today so I can start editing those. Meantime, while that old phone charges, I'll read folks' threads and see what's what. :)
 
Congratulations on your perminant job offer.Atleast it is a regular income.Enjoy your upcoming trip the board's can wait until you have the time again to post.
Thanks!! It's good to know they think I'm a good enough fit to be brought on in a more permanent role. Yes, it's definitely a good income for me and the benefits will be nice too.

We'll see if I can get an update done, but I won't stress if I cant. :)


Congrats on the job offer and no worries on updates the boards aren't going anywhere.

Thanks!! It's super nice to know they trust me enough to bring me on permanently. :) If I don't get one up before I go, I'll work on one on the plane or at my folks. :)

I started to quote things, but really the only thing to say about all the news is a great big CONGRATULATIONS!!!

dwarfs-congrats-gif.244071

Thanks, Jeff!! It's been a bit of a string of good, but time consuming things come my way lately. Sorry it took me so long to get to your PM with those links, but I did look at all of them, and your daughters certainly are talented. I was duly impressed. :)
 
Congrats on the change in classification!!!! On all levels!!!! Per Part time and Grandma. At least that is what I would call it at work... which is where I seem to spend too much time.
Safe travels !!! I will pop in as I can. Life is crazy right now.

It has been insanity for a good solid few weeks now for me. In mostly good ways. I hope your work will settle down for you; too much time there isn't good for finding rest and renewal.

Always good to see you pop in as you can; it's all I"m able to do as well right now.

Hey look what happens when I am busy? You lose your camera bag, get it back WITH the camera, have a fabulous breakfast meet up, find all the hidden dustbunnies in your room, get a promotion, fry your brain at pilot school and? Oh YEAH! Find out you will be a Grandma!!!!! :jumping1: CONGRATS!

Crazy amounts of ridiculousness right now. Some of it's even fun and exciting!

I'm so happy for you! We went to Okinawa when mine were 3 and 18months. I know now it must have been heartbreaking for my mom. We had no Skype or cell phones then, no internet, and phone calls were about $40/min. No exaggeration. Of course you know after practically raising my Myles and Londynn to ages 4 and almost 2, their mommy and daddy decided to move to Texas. I was devastated. Now we live near them and only see our West coast geands, Mason and Evan once or twice a year. It is so hard, but we call every couple of weeks, and we Skype occasionally. We just make the best of it.


I guess in our culture of looser family connections (I'm comparing to Kaz.) it's hard to keep everyone in the same place. And yes, I am very grateful for all the resources we have today to make keeping our family close together despite the differences. I will do my best to keep close to them, and do as you do- just make the best of it.


That being said, I am awake now at 2am because of work changes. I am used to having 3 weeks of PTO and pretty much calling the shots. I have found out that contrary to what I was told before leaving for HI in March, when the merger of our clinic with another one takes place Aug 1, I will not be managing, but billing as management is in place. That is fine, but I will be taking 20 hrs with me, and only earning at 2 hrs per pay period. This mama bear is SCREAMING inside because I won't be able to get to my West Coast babies for a long time! Of course opportunities to earn more go up with time served, but kids grow up fast and elderly parents have needs too. I have already told them it won't work for me, and I don't know if I can stay. They say they are really couting on me to be there aND I am on the transition team, but they need to be fair to their current employees.. On the other hand, starting fresh somewhere else would look the same in alot of cases in this city.

:scared1:

Can you not take unpaid vacation time? Is that possible for you financially?

If not, I can see where that would be really hard and very sad for you. :(

I am praying that you come to the right decision, Tammie and that you will find peace in whatever situation you come to.

I say all that to say it is REALLY hard to be a Grandma long distance, but you can find ways to make the best of it. You will find yourself finding ways to stay in touch, but also to get over there and play before baby gets too big!

Guam is very definitely in the plan to visit when we get out of the house sale situation we're in. It's been a long while now without our full income and well, to be honest kinda tough. Yes, we are still blessed and comfortable, but big, more distant destinations are out of the question right now.

And I was thinking if anyone here could slove that problem for Liesa it would be you
:rotfl2:

:lmao:

"Where are we on XXX project right now?"

"We're several months behind."

"Well, I"ll come up with sob, but plausible story for upper management."
 
I can't believe I had completely forgotten about this TR! I read everything (besides the first page) over the weekend, so now I'm caught up again.

No worries, Irene! It all came to a screeching halt when life took a turn for the crazy a few weeks ago. I heard on Friday at work that my manager has hired 3 more per diems now, so my hours should be easing up a bit. (Famous last words.) But, so glad you are caught up now and ready to dive in with me again when I finally get another chapter written! :D

Congrats on the job offer! That should help even things out.

Yes! It is helping while we're in this little dip without rental income. But it's a delicate balance between enough income and too many hours.

That airport hotel sounded pretty sketchy! I've been doing a bit of Pokemon tournament travel with dd, and I'm always trying to find places that are affordable but not scary. That sounds a little like the reviews of a place I quickly decided was NOT an option for us, lol. Glad to see you survived!

I kinda just holed myself up in my room and hunkered down. Well, and ordered pasta. Because, pasta.

Sounds like you had a great time at your DiSmeet, but that doesn't surprise me at all!

We really did!! The 3 Caballeros were in fine form! :dance3:

Btw, I'm paying a lot of attention to the Anaheim hotel discussion, since Pokemon Worlds will be at the Anaheim Convention center, and dd clinched her invite! I still have to figure out how to pay for this trip, but I'm scoping things out. The crazy thing is, it is right after school starts, so there may not be any time for DL or DCA, even though we would be right across the street! (Dd is also incredibly focused on keeping in her Pokemon bubble on tournament trips, so she wouldn't be up for Dismeets)

You might try @mvf-m11c for all things Orange Co. hotels. He recently went, as you know, and has all the low down. I can't imagine being that close to a park and not going though! :scared1:
 
Friends:

This brings me up-to-date on replies here and now I'm going to start working on another chapter for you. :)

But first, I have to sort out a little snag that happened when I got my new phone. Since I'm a fine specimen of a piece of cheapskate, I didn't pay the low, low price of $.99 a year for more iCloud storage and the DLR photos didn't transfer over. Luckily, they are still on the other phone and I just need to e-mail them to myself. If that makes sense.

So.... working on it.

Meantime, I have about 15 threads to read and catch up on, and chapters to write as well.

Add that to working a 12 hour shift on Monday, a half day on Tuesday, flight class Tuesday night, last minute packing and stuff on Wednesday and possibly my first time going up in the Cessna Wednesday afternoon, and a 3:00AM departure on Thursday all makes for a tight schedule. We'll see what this lady can get done.....
 
Add that to working a 12 hour shift on Monday, a half day on Tuesday, flight class Tuesday night, last minute packing and stuff on Wednesday and possibly my first time going up in the Cessna Wednesday afternoon, and a 3:00AM departure on Thursday all makes for a tight schedule. We'll see what this lady can get done.....

That sounds to me like no time to catch up! I'd be spending the free time that I had eating and sleeping! :eek: Have a great trip, and I hope your Lasagna DIS meet is a success!
 
Sadly, you've seen my awkward hand; I'm quite adept at using it too, ergo spilling perfectly delightful drinks at swanky places.

Can happen to anyone.

Did I mention how I knocked over a glass of wine at a wedding?

Mine?

With everyone (about 150 people) watching?

I'll set you straight then.

Massive confusion on both sides ensues....

:laughing:

I was talking with a surgeon the other day, and somehow we got on the subject of his car, and I asked him what he drove. "What do you drive, a Corvette?"

"What do you think I am, White Trash??"

:scared1::scared1::scared1::scared1::scared1:

:lmao::lmao::lmao::lmao::lmao:

Yes, he's a pottyhole.

I do believe he has an opinion.

A stupid one... but an opinion.

No, pop in any time. You just may not get any eggrolls. If you want eggrolls I need a 3 hour warning.

Flight time Winnipeg - Portland 5 hours.

That enough?

Hmmm.... Pretty sure it was an English muffin? I DO remember Betsey had fruit. with whipped cream.

Nah. I'd never order an English muffin.
Maybe if I look at their menu?

This reminds me, I'd better check my rental car for this week!!! It'd be JUST like me to show up at the wrong counter and have a hissy that they didn't have my car ready.

:laughing: So did you check? Were you right?

Ummmm, those ARE the details. That was the sample problem in it's entirety.

At the time, I couldn't see the photo.

But first, I have to sort out a little snag that happened when I got my new phone. Since I'm a fine specimen of a piece of cheapskate, I didn't pay the low, low price of $.99 a year for more iCloud storage and the DLR photos didn't transfer over. Luckily, they are still on the other phone and I just need to e-mail them to myself. If that makes sense.

::yes::

possibly my first time going up in the Cessna Wednesday afternoon

Cool! Tell us all about it! (When you have a free moment.)

and a 3:00AM departure on Thursday

:faint:
 
Photos edited, photo bucket giving me the usual migraine, and update half written....

But, I have other things I need to do tonight, so it'll have to be Tuesday that I finish up. :)
 
Thanks for your prayers. I am not sure about the time off without pay. That has not been allowed at my current job, but we also had more time off. I can't really afford more than a day or two. I hear you on the rental home. We would like to sell ours but need to fix it up some first and just can't swing it. We are continually putting our fix up money into basic maintenance stuff and
The mortgage is more than the rent right now. Our renters pay every month, so I have been dragging my feet on making any changes.

Have a fun flight, and a good travel day. Hope your visit is extra special.
 
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It has been insanity for a good solid few weeks now for me. In mostly good ways. I hope your work will settle down for you; too much time there isn't good for finding rest and renewal.

Always good to see you pop in as you can; it's all I"m able to do as well right now.

This summer seems to be the more controlled chaos. I guess relative to last summer which was very uncontrolled. I have lots of very young ( high school age) staff and well a certain amount of angst goes along with that. Hopefully we settle for a bit then once August hits we do it all over again. :rolleyes:
 
Well, how about this? A TR that I've missed for the last 2 months? Go figure. Well, I've caught up... not commenting on everything, but there were just a few things I picked out.

The one memory we both look back fondly on was the time we built a giant snowman and then dumped antifreeze all over it turning it a glorious shade of pink. That was before there was the child abuse cops, environmental police, and other fun crashers.
:rotfl2::rotfl::lmao: I mean, didn't they have food coloring back in the old days? :rolleyes1 :duck:

The cute little 1901 cocktail napkins were dispatched, thus effectively wiping out a free souvenir pilfering. Regretful at best. Inward, shame and embarrassment filled Steppe’s heart, but she (probably not so effectively) passed it off coolly while dying a slow death on the inside. The final stake was neatly driven home when the sweet server noticed and cleaned up the table the rest of the way and brought her a brand new drink. (#3 if you're counting) The moral of this story is…. You just can’t take her anywhere.
Well, if you're going to commit a party foul, go big in the classiest place you can find. That's actually some impressive service that they refilled your drink.

At the very last minute that I could possibly wait without missing our next event, he walked in the door with my gear. The lady remarked that I wasn’t kidding around- “That’s some serious stuff there! No wonder you waited!”.
How does one go about leaving $1000-$1500 worth of camera gear laying around, not once, but twice in the same day??? You'd think those extra 40 minutes on the road would have taught you that lesson.


Congrats Gramma!!!!!
 
G is for: Guess Where I Got to Eat?!?!

There are times in life when all is in order. With not a care in the world, my camera where it belonged (in my possession, but handily stashed in Alison’s storage tote on her scooter), good friends alongside of me, and Main Street mere yards away, I skipped along happy as a clam.

Side note: Are clams truly happy? I wonder about these things… usually around 2:00 AM when Brain won’t shut up. If clams are happy in the salty sand, is there anything that would make them happier? Can clams be unhappy? What life lessons can we learn from clams???

The 5 of us did have a destination and reservation, and this was one not to be missed! By some act of pixie dust and magic, Alison and Fran, being the locals they are, scored an invitation to Club 33 for our little group. This old gal was mostly along for the ride and was content to do whatever the gang plotted and, well, being a Bucket List item for, oooooohhhh, I dunno, 3+ decades, I reluctantly agreed to tag along.

(That’s a lie; I nearly peed myself when I was told that this was something Alison got an invitation for. I’d have given up 3 cameras for a chance to go to the exclusive, beautiful Club 33. (If you’ll recall, I almost did give up 1.))

Fran and Alison led the way, and I, with the kind of giddiness reserved only for things like lunch at Club 33, passing my nursing boards, and birthing a child in my heart, I skipped along behind. Actually, the skipping part was also only in my heart because it was so freaking crowded in the park (scary crowded!), and there was no room from skipping. Make no mistake though, Ladies and Gentlemen, if there is room, this girl skips. I was glad to not be going on rides this day at all having gotten that all out of my system the day before. I refuse to stand in any line more than about 20-30 minutes ever, and since the Treehouse was closed I wasn't gonna be going on anything anyway.

Hot diggity!! Imagine it! Me, getting to step inside Walt’s little hidey-hole tucked unseen from the vast majority of humanity in the park that day. It had gone unseen for me as well during the year I worked underneath it in the Blue Bayou (circa 1986), but not unnoticed. From a jealous distance, I would envy the members and yearn to be chosen to serve or host "up there". I'm pretty sure you'd have to work there a million years before scoring a position at The Club. The fact that I couldn’t even see it made me want to visit it all the more. Never, ever in my wildest fantasies, did I think I’d have a chance to set foot inside such a coveted piece of real estate during my lifetime, let alone have lunch for an afternoon.

Our reservation was for 1:30 or something, but honestly, times became unimportant to me as I was literally just following along after we met up. Our two lovely hostesses wanted our group to experience La Salon Nouveau first- a decadent 1920’s Jazz Bar-themed lounge adjacent to the main dining room to have a pre-meal cocktail and wait to be called to our table.

But, let’s back up a bit....

Before going upstairs to where we’d be dining, we paused just inside the private entrance and Fran and Alison parked their scooters. I changed from my flats into some heels more appropriate to the occasion, we were offered a glass of infused water to sip, which we gratefully accepted, and then paused on the stairway for a portrait of we threesome.

FullSizeRender%20-%20Copy.jpg


OH Look! Another of the light fixtures I drool over!

IMG_3950.jpg


Soon, we made our way up the staircase, and Kay and I visited the (is there a word more descriptive than posh?) opulent bathroom. You know, the kind with a little box of nice, thick towels to wipe your hands and a bowl of mints, and other complimentary things to freshen up with? The kind with hand-painted sinks, a real sit-down vanity area, and Mucha prints on the walls. That kind of bathroom. Walt wanted a classy place to “do business” in the parks. He nailed it on so many levels.

We finally made our way into the Salon Nouveau where our tablemates were already seated and our server came by to answer questions, bring water, and introduce herself. The menu was fairly extensive and I went with something pink. At this point, it’s no use asking me what it was; I have no idea. It tasted great. No one ordered any appetizers as we knew the meal would be more than ample. Trust me, it was. But more on that in a bit.

IMG_3953.jpg


First let’s explore Salon Nouveau. Relax, it’ll be brief as I was too self-conscious to take many photos. I could kick myself now, but there ya have it. And, no, I won’t let you kick me too; one of us doing that is enough. The level of self-conscious, in fact, constrained this lame TR writer to exactly ONE (1) photo. Sad. There was a veritable plethora of cool stuff in there including some ridiculously fun special effects that corresponded with the soundtrack being played. For example, there was a painting on the wall with a jazz band playing several instruments. When the tune featured a sax solo, the guy playing sax disappeared from the painting and a sax appeared over the bar as an animated image. Other pictures around the bar also have hidden characters (Kay found a hidden Darth Vader in a race she and I had over one picture that Alison pointed out.) or other effects. There were memorabilia and antiques purchased by Lillian herself scattered all around the wood-paneled, leather-furnished place and, while quiet, it was also upbeat and fun.

IMG_3952.jpg


By the time we were called to our table in the Grand Salon, or Main Dining Room, we were all pretty hungry. Actually, I can’t speak for the others, but I saw a lot of food consumed during the meal, which usually testifies to one’s state of appetite. (With 3 exceptions: Thanksgiving Dinner, pizza and lasagna. Those are always consumed far beyond the point of one being “full”. Hungry or not, I have no problem eating those until the Heartburn Ogre declares a win.)

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The menus were handed around in the usual fancy fashion, and I occupied myself with reading the little history accompanying it. I found it fascinating and especially pleased it originally opened in the month and year I was born.

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The customary hoity-toity purse stools were given to the ladies, and the napkin folding was amusingly creative.

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The Birthday Girl enjoyed an extra splash of attention which I believe she enjoyed a bit.

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From each course, you can choose one of the items. Here’s what I went with:

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Escargot:

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Onion Soup:

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Seared Fish:

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And the Cheese Plate (because cheese plate):

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I also did the wine pairing and found myself… ummmm… on the snockered side by the time I walked out (yes, I did walk out). I’ll let the others give their commentary and friendly ribbing on the levels of inebriation, but the upside is that had I not been, I doubt I’d have left with these beauties:

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I adore them to say the least! :cloud9:

This experience was truly a once-in-a-lifetime treat, one I’ll never forget. (And yes, your wisecracks aside, I do remember all of it. )
 
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