Trip Report Hopefully We Can Stay Home

WHO:
J, E, R & myself(hanging out somewhere new & different)

WHERE:
Home

WHEN:
Friday, January 14th-Monday, January 17th

We had a 7:00 flight that evening b/c R & J both had school that day. When I say R had school what I really mean is that he had to work. He is a principal & really does not like taking off from work while school is in session. I happened to be off that day so I was able to take my time getting ready to go & for once didn't feel like I was rushing from work to the airport.

We ate at Penn Brewery for dinner & while we waited for our food R taught J how to gamble!!

He was so excited b/c he won $10.00. Beginner's luck!!

R decided that he only wanted pierogies that were on the appetizer menu. I tried to talk him into getting something more but he said he wasn't that hungry. Guess who was starving by the time we got to Florida??

There was quite the scene at the gate as the passengers from the previous flight were coming off. See my man standing up with the dark orange hoodie?? Wow.... Apparently he was refusing to wear his mask on the plane & was giving the flight attendants a hard time about it. He was still carrying on even after the flight. Well, he was so busy being a jerk that he forgot his coat on the plane. Now he wanted to go back on & get it. He was told he wasn't allowed. It was very obvious(& rightfully so) that Southwest took their good old time going back on there to retrieve it. It seemed like they were stalling long enough to give airport security time to get there!! Served him right!! All that did was created more of a scene though. Finally, security ended up escorting him out. He kept saying he has the right to not wear a mask. Come on dude, we've been wearing them on planes for the last 2 years. If you don't like it, stay home. No one is forcing you to fly. Where I got really irritated was when our flight was delayed b/c of Mr. Non Rule Follower. I don't want to sound mean but I hope he ended up getting some kind of fine over his antics!!

J started out by reading the beverage menu that evening!!

He followed up with the safety instructions after that!!

Fortunately our flight wasn't delayed too long & we landed shortly before 10. Really, 9:37 & our room still wasn't ready??

By 9:50 it was though

None of us checked in luggage b/c it was going to be a short trip. The car service was waiting for us & we were home in no time at all!!

 

[Songbird76]

2016. They decided to retire and sold the building. I think they may have owned a substantial part of that block, which was a fabulous investment on their parents' part!

That makes me so sad!!! I'm pretty sure we ate there in 2016 with some friends when we were there that summer. Must have been after that, I guess. So sad....what a loss to the community. It was SO popular. It was always packed and there was always a waiting list for walk-ups!

 

[fractal]

SATURDAY, JANUARY 15TH

The appointment was at The Art of Shaving!! There was a location here at our local mall. R always wanted to go there so I bought him a gift card a few years ago. Covid hit & the mall was closed for awhile. When the mall reopened The Art of Shaving did not & still has not. I kept telling him he would have to use his gift card at Disney Springs instead!! When I told E that I was making an appointment for R I asked her if she wanted me to make one for J for a hair cut. They were supposed to have their appointments at the same time but on the way there R got a phone call from them. The barber who was supposed to cut J's hair called off(his wife went into labor--I guess we can forgive him ). J's appointment would now be after R's instead.
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We were there a few minutes early so we waited outside. Since J's appointment was going to be later E took him to get something to eat since the poor kid never got his Mickey waffles earlier at POR.
I took a "before" pic of R. I was so happy he was getting this done!! He purposely didn't shave or get his hair cut for weeks prior to this. I was tired of him complaining about how itchy his face was!!
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I was told I was welcome to see this in action!!
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The place was pretty cool. Small but really neat. They played a lot of Frank Sinatra type of music.
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He was really excited to have this "straight razor"(I think that's what it's called)shave. He said it had been quite awhile since he had one.
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The gentleman took a great deal of time with him. It almost reminded me of a facial for men!!
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Then came the haircut!!
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I love getting a straight edge shave, just have to make sure the barber is properly skilled. I find them very relaxing.

 

[Darstarr]

Thanks…!!! Yea, I won’t do lines even remotely close to that anymore.
I mean, back in the day, we used to even camp out for concert tickets, but, that was decades ago…!!!!!

We have Universal pre k in our district. Back when my middle son was getting ready to start pre k there were three sites to chose from. Everyone wanted mornings at this one particular building so my husband and our neighbor camped out the night before the sign ups began. They were numbers 7 and 8 in line.
We do crazy things for our kids but for a Figment bucket? Pass!

 

[donaldtoo]

We have Universal pre k in our district. Back when my middle son was getting ready to start pre k there were three sites to chose from. Everyone wanted mornings at this one particular building so my husband and our neighbor camped out the night before the sign ups began. They were numbers 7 and 8 in line.
We do crazy things for our kids but for a Figment bucket? Pass!

Yea, we did many fun and crazy things for our 3 kiddos (@wdisney9000 ) way back when (all 3 are grown adults now). We did zero line standing, but, they still found one for us about a week later. At least it was a Figment bucket…can you just imagine standing in a line for 6+ hours for a Barney PCB…!!!!!

 

[Songbird76]

I was just watching DFB and thought of you. AJ mentioned that on her recent trip, she hadn't received a room ready text by like 5:30, which rooms SHOULD be ready by 4. She ended up looking in the app, and she had a room assigned to her, but didn't get the text until 7:30 that night. So she said you can always check that and if you've already been assigned to a room, you can go ahead and get into your room, even if you haven't gotten the text yet. I thought about your trip where you didn't get the room ready text until almost 10pm....I was thinking, if that ever happens again, that's a good tip to check the app to see if they just haven't sent you the message, but you actually do have a room.

 

[riverside]

both the guy and the girl are looking right at your camera
She does have a bit of a pose on but does not seem to be a full on Insta session!!

I felt like she was posing more than him. Maybe it was just the timing??

Aww love that you took J to Star Tours and RNRC! He sure has gotten brave since that first time you brought him on it! What a great picture of him in front of the guitar!!! Glad you got your walk in at POR to start your day even if it was a bit rainy!

Yes--he is definitely braver!! It was quite rainy that day but that's ok, we were in Disney!!

Thanks…!!! Yea, I won’t do lines even remotely close to that anymore.
I mean, back in the day, we used to even camp out for concert tickets, but, that was decades ago…!!!!!

I forgot about those days until you said that!! Wow, have times changed!!

I love getting a straight edge shave, just have to make sure the barber is properly skilled. I find them very relaxing.

I'm sure it is. R absolutely loved it. Having a non skilled barber could be disastrous, I'm sure!!

I was just watching DFB and thought of you. AJ mentioned that on her recent trip, she hadn't received a room ready text by like 5:30, which rooms SHOULD be ready by 4. She ended up looking in the app, and she had a room assigned to her, but didn't get the text until 7:30 that night. So she said you can always check that and if you've already been assigned to a room, you can go ahead and get into your room, even if you haven't gotten the text yet. I thought about your trip where you didn't get the room ready text until almost 10pm....I was thinking, if that ever happens again, that's a good tip to check the app to see if they just haven't sent you the message, but you actually do have a room.

Thanks!! I'll be sure to do that next time!!

 

[donaldtoo]

I forgot about those days until you said that!! Wow, have times changed!!

Yes, they have indeed…!!!
IIRC, the last concert we (myself and 2 friends) camped out for tickets was The Police, back in the early-mid ‘80’s…?
We got 5th row floor seats, so it was really good, and worth it…!!!
I’m pretty sure they started distributing visa bands shortly after that, but, those “camp outs” were some good times…!!!!!!!

 

[riverside]

SUNDAY, JANUARY 16TH

E & R had already secured our favorite spot by the time we got there!!

There was a major snowstorm expected to hit the east coast that weekend. Lots of Southwest flights were being cancelled for that day. Based on the amount of snow we were supposed to get R was confident that school would be cancelled for Tuesday. We were all really hoping that our flight would be cancelled on Monday so we could stay an extra day. I was the only one feeling somewhat guilty b/c I had to work 1-10 on Tuesday & I felt bad that the manager before me would have to double out if I didn't make it back. Ok, I'll be truthful, I really didn't feel guilty!! I couldn't help it if we happened to get stranded in Florida!! For the rest of the trip we really kept monitoring the weather & kept our fingers crossed that our flight would be cancelled!!

This family asked if we would mind if they shared our table. They were an absolute pleasure to talk to!! As it turned out it was their first visit there so it was really neat to see their excitement!! There was mom, dad & their 3 kids. They told us that they had recently moved from Alaska to Boise, Idaho. They were telling us about the high crime in Anchorage, where they had lived. Another reason for their move was that their wasn't much in the way of opportunity there & they wanted more for their children.

They invited us to play Head's Up with them. I had never heard of it before. It was so much fun!! We all had a great time!! I'm so glad we got to meet them & I hope they enjoyed the rest of their 1st visit trip!!

With it still raining pretty good we decided to watch Frozen. Not quite sure why J has his pants up to his knees but, whatever....

Then we went to a galaxy far, far away....

We wandered around Hollywood Blvd for a bit.

Then got our caffeine fix!!

Call me old fashioned or lacking in style but those pants do not look comfortable in the least bit!!

 

[riverside]

Yes, they have indeed…!!!
IIRC, the last concert we (myself and 2 friends) camped out for tickets was The Police, back in the early-mid ‘80’s…?
We got 5th row floor seats, so it was really good, and worth it…!!!
I’m pretty sure they started distributing visa bands shortly after that, but, those “camp outs” were some good times…!!!!!!!

Nice!!
If I had to guess I would say the last one I camped out for would have been Bon Jovi. I'm a huge fan & I kid you not when I say I've seen them 20+ times!!

 

[riverside]

SUNDAY, JANUARY 16TH

SDD is one of R's favorites so we made sure to get a ride in on this trip!!

How brave J is!!

Indiana Jones had recently reopened & J really enjoys that show so we watched that next.

A few things have definitely changed but I must say that this is much better than the corny BatB revised show!!

Some lousy action shots....

These are a little better!!

 

[donaldtoo]

Nice!!
If I had to guess I would say the last one I camped out for would have been Bon Jovi. I'm a huge fan & I kid you not when I say I've seen them 20+ times!!

Wow…!!!
The only band I’ve ever seen more than once was Boston…wait, OK, them and George Strait, as my DWifey is a huge fan…!!!!!

 

[riverside]

SUNDAY, JANUARY 16TH

Bet you never guessed that this is where we would be eating dinner!!

R got the Magical Star Cocktail.

As did E. I got pinot grigio.

R started with chicken noodle soup. He said it was very good!!

I guess there's a salmon shortage?? Even for a kid's meal that is a small piece. He has had that happen a few times before. It's sad b/c he actually recognizes when he gets a small piece!!

No surprise as to what I got!!

Or E for that matter!!

J enjoyed his meal!!

I shouldn't have but I got dessert.

 

[riverside]

Wow…!!!
The only band I’ve ever seen more than once was Boston…wait, OK, them and George Strait, as my DWifey is a huge fan…!!!!!

Never seen either. I wouldn't mind seeing Boston!
R & I like a lot of hair metal bands(we're 80's children) so we used to go to lots of concerts every time our favorites came to town so we've seen many bands multiple times--Def Leppard, Skid Row, Poison, Tesla, Motley Crue, Aerosmith.....
Now that we are older we don't really don't go anymore but we do have tickets for the Joan Jett, Motley Crue, Poison, Def Leppard concert that was supposed to be 2 years ago until Covid hit!!

 

[riverside]

SUNDAY, JANUARY 16TH

J was really enjoying his milkshake!!

R got a sundae.

E got the apple crisp.

As usual, 50's did not disappoint!! And look--the Tune In Lounge was finally open again!!

It was nice to see that!! It was depressing walking through there to exit & seeing it totally empty!!

TSM was next!!

Then it was time to go!! Even though the rain had stopped early afternoon it was very windy the rest of the day.

 

[riverside]

SUNDAY, JANUARY 16TH

When we got back we went to the arcade for a bit.

J was hungry after getting shortchanged on the salmon so he got a snack from The Riverside Mill. He ate that while we had a couple drinks at The River Roost. Sunday night=no Bob.

 

[donaldtoo]

Never seen either. I wouldn't mind seeing Boston!
R & I like a lot of hair metal bands(we're 80's children) so we used to go to lots of concerts every time our favorites came to town so we've seen many bands multiple times--Def Leppard, Skid Row, Poison, Tesla, Motley Crue, Aerosmith.....
Now that we are older we don't really don't go anymore but we do have tickets for the Joan Jett, Motley Crue, Poison, Def Leppard concert that was supposed to be 2 years ago until Covid hit!!

Now, that sounds like a fun show…definitely know who they all are, and have enjoyed their music over the years, but, have never seen any of them in concert.
And, yes, Boston was great both times…they were actually my first concert here in Austin back in ‘78, I was 15.
Tom Scholz is still one of my all-time fave rock hero’s…!!!

 

[Swissmiss]

J looks so grown up here:

so I found myself going back to your first TR:

What a difference just a few years makes

 

[donaldtoo]

Sorry for the interlude, but, as far as I’m concerned this is the best rock song EVER…!!!!!

 

[lindawdw]

I loved those updates, Patti!!! You all got so much done in DHS and it's so nice that you have your favorite restaurants like Baseline Tap House and 50's PT Cafe that you enjoy so much! J really has grown up so much since your first TR's!!! I wish we could keep him little for a bit longer. I didn't know you were such music fans! My DH, Pete, is a big music fan, so you'll have a lot to talk about at our next meet up!

 

[riverside]

MONDAY, JANUARY 17TH

Unfortunately, we hadn't received any notifications that our flight was cancelled so we took our luggage to Bell Services. We were still holding out hope that it would be cancelled though. The Pittsburgh area had got a lot of snow. J got a cinnamon roll for breakfast & ate it while we waited for the bus. While on the bus we talked to a family & were telling them how we were hoping our flight was cancelled. They were leaving the next day & flying to Rhode Island. Going to the same mess that we were going into!!

Can you tell E was cold??

It was a little chilly for the wildest ride in the wilderness but J really wanted to go on!!

R needed to use the restroom so we hung out for a few minutes while waiting for him.

We had a little bit of time before lunch so a ride on the Peoplemover it was!!